Byron Donalds has become one of the most powerful voices for the America First movement in Congress.
Now he’s sharing a deeply personal story that few Americans have heard before.
And Byron Donalds dropped this jaw-dropping revelation about his life-changing moment at Cracker Barrel that you won’t believe.
Congressman reveals the moment that changed his life forever
Byron Donalds (R-FL) has risen through the ranks of Congress to become one of the most influential conservatives in Washington, D.C.
With his sights now set on the Florida Governor’s mansion, Donalds is opening up about the spiritual turning point that set him on his path to political prominence – and it happened in the most unexpected place.
In a revealing interview with CBN News, Donalds shared the stunning moment when, at age 21, while working at Cracker Barrel, his life was forever changed in the restaurant’s parking lot.
“The Lord spoke to me,” Donalds recalled. “It was like, ‘Stop running from me.’ And so, it just knocked me back.”
The moment was so powerful that Donalds immediately abandoned his silverware-rolling duties to chase after a church group he had just served.
“I walked out. My manager’s like, ‘Where are you going?’ I need a second,” Donalds explained.
What happened next left the Congressman still emotional years later.
“I walk out there. The last lady’s getting on the bus, and she goes, ‘Yo, man, you okay?’ And I go, ‘No, ma’am, I’m not okay.’ She goes, ‘What?’ And I go, ‘The Lord is telling me to stop running.’ I still get emotional about it,” Donalds shared.
The church group, returning from a revival, immediately recognized what was happening.
“They’re like, ‘Oh, praise the Lord, we got another one!’ So they pour out of the bus, and they all pray over me, and I gave my life to Christ in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel,” Donalds said.
From Brooklyn to rising conservative star
Donalds’ journey to that transformative Cracker Barrel moment began on the tough streets of Brooklyn, where he was raised by a single mother who instilled in him a “no excuses” approach to life.
“My mom just did everything that she could,” Donalds told CBN News. “She really believed in me, believed in really my abilities…she laid a great foundation, a no excuses foundation.”
Despite his mother’s guidance, Donalds faced legal troubles in his youth.Â
He had a marijuana possession charge (later dropped) and pleaded no contest to a felony theft charge for depositing a bad check, which was eventually expunged.
“I’m not proud of it. Never have been proud of those mistakes,” Donalds admitted. “But in life, it’s not really how you fall down, it’s how you get up.”
After his conversion experience, Donalds’ career in finance took off, and he began noticing fundamental flaws in the federal government’s operations.
His political awakening came during the Tea Party movement, setting him on the path to Congress where he’s now known for his uncompromising conservative principles and willingness to directly confront the Left.
Donalds takes on big government and liberal critics
As a member of Congress, Donalds has established himself as one of the fiercest advocates for cutting federal spending – something Washington rarely wants to address.
“There are members in both chambers who would say, oh, we can’t cut let’s do that later,” Donalds told CBN News. “The problem is there is no later. There is now…this town has never cut spending. Ever.”
Unlike many representatives who avoid confrontation, Donalds regularly holds town halls despite knowing critics will show up.
“I’m not going to be intimidated by your yelling,” Donalds said about handling hostile attendees. “If you want to have a constructive conversation, let’s do that. I’m all for that but if you want to yell, there’s the door.”
He added that “I could be political and just tell everybody what they want to hear but I’m not in this for politics. I’m in this to put the country in the right spot.”
Donalds sets sights on Florida governorship
Donalds’ no-nonsense approach has earned him significant respect in Congress, even garnering votes for House Speaker during recent leadership contests.
Now, the Florida congressman is turning his attention to becoming the next governor of the Sunshine State.
“God, if this is not for me, close that door. And if it’s something that we should pursue, then leave the door open,” Donalds said about his decision to run. “And so in the steps towards running for governor, the doors just kept staying open, and other doors were closing.”
Donalds attributes his political savvy partly to his upbringing in New York City.
“I joked with some old friends. They asked me what prepared me for politics. I said, ‘Growing up in New York…you’ve just got to be street smart,'” he remarked.
With the combination of his Brooklyn street smarts, strong faith, and America First principles, Donalds continues to be one of the most effective messengers for the MAGA movement.
