A Senate Republican running for re-election in ruby-red South Dakota has joined a growing number of candidates putting distance between themselves and President Donald Trump.
But it’s more subtle than Republicans opposing the Iran war or dodging Trump campaign visits as Election Day nears and his popularity struggles.
Just last month, Trump’s name and endorsement were featured prominently on Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds’ campaign website, but some mentions of the president have since been scrubbed, according to an older version of the website reviewed by Fox News Digital.
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Rounds’ campaign noted to Fox News Digital that not every mention of Trump has been removed.
“The president’s endorsement is still front and center on the website in Mike’s announcement video,” Rounds’ campaign advisor, Rob Skjonsberg, told Fox News Digital. “But, generally speaking, it’s not abnormal to hone in on general election messaging.”
Trump endorsed Rounds last year and lauded the lawmaker as an “incredibly strong advocate for the wonderful people of South Dakota, a State I love, and WON BIG, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!”
“Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,” Trump said on Truth Social at the time.
Still, Trump’s approval rating among voters has cratered — a Fox News poll last month found that overall, voters had a 39% approval rating of the president’s performance. Key issues like cost of living, cost of groceries and fuel, and the ongoing war in Iran were major sticking points for participants.
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Rounds’ campaign website featured two mentions of Trump on its homepage, including “Endorsed by President Trump” and a photo of Rounds touting that “Mike is endorsed by President Trump and is working for South Dakota every single day.”
Those two mentions have since been removed, along with Trump’s name being removed in two places from the lawmaker’s “Issues” page on his website — the president was previously included in Rounds’ “Put America First” and “Education” sections.
The lawmaker is vying for a third term in deep-red South Dakota, where he previously served as the state’s governor and in the state Senate.
He’s running against independent Brian Bengs, who previously ran as a Democrat against Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in 2022. Thune easily defeated Bengs in the general election, securing over 70% of the vote.
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“I’m not running against the President,” Bengs said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “But to me it says a lot that this didn’t happen because of the Iran War that’s raising our costs or the tariffs that are hurting us — it only happened when Mike’s poll numbers went down and his big money allies are buying more ads to bail him out. I hope Mike finds the courage to debate me, so we can talk about it.”
And South Dakota, unlike other red states like Kansas, hasn’t budged from being considered “Solidly Republican,” according to the Cook Political Report.
Other Republican candidates in tighter races, like Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa and former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, have publicly come out against some of Trump’s policies, including the war and embrace of data centers.
“Bengs, quite likely the most unlikable carpet bagger candidate to ever run in South Dakota, is doing what socialists do — trying to distract from his own liberal positions,” Rounds’ campaign advisor said. “He can’t defend his positions — so he attacks.”
“In this case, like every case prior, it’s coming from a Biden communications firm attempting to peddle garbage. We’re proud of the president’s endorsement. It’s still front and center,” he continued. “And, Bengs still wants to increase your taxes, take away your guns and expand Obamacare.”
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