FAMU could find itself in the middle of GOP crossfires over interim president's support for Byron Donalds

FAMU could find itself at the center of an inter-party Republican squabble following interim President Timothy Beard's public display of support for potential Florida GOP Governor candidate Byron Donalds at the Black Conservative Federation’s Legacy of Freedom Ball held last month in Washington, D.C.

At the event, Beard presented an award to Donalds, praising him as a rising star in the political arena. "They say at FAMU, you can get anywhere from here, and this young man is well on his way – that's Congressman Byron Donalds," Beard said. "Mr. Donalds is changing the world."

Beard's remarks came on the heels of a social media post by former President Donald Trump, who seemingly endorsed Donalds for Florida Governor. "Byron Donalds seemingly has received the pre-endorsement from President Donald Trump, who would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement," Trump wrote. "RUN, BYRON, RUN!"

DeSantis weighs in
The situation escalated Monday when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized Donalds during a press conference in Tampa on Monday. DeSantis suggested that Donalds should focus on his role in Congress and support Trump rather than pursuing a gubernatorial bid. 

"Byron Donalds just hasn’t been part of any of the victories we have had over the left the last few years," DeSantis said. He also predicted that if his wife, Casey DeSantis, were to run for governor, she would win by a larger margin than he did in 2022.

The public cuddling and endorsement by Beard have raised questions about FAMU's political neutrality and its potential impact on the university's reputation. Critics argue that Beard's actions could be seen as aligning FAMU with a specific political agenda, which may not be in the best interest of the university's diverse student body and faculty.

As the political landscape in Florida continues to evolve, the fallout from Beard's public support for Donalds remains to be seen. The situation has undoubtedly placed FAMU in the crosshairs of a heated Republican primary race, with implications that could linger through the 2026 election cycle.