Byron Donalds became a national figure helping President Donald Trump win reelection.
Now he's running to become Florida's next governor with Trump's endorsement.
But one Florida candidate just made his Byron Donalds "slave" attack even worse.
Political newcomer doubles down on racist rhetoric against Trump-endorsed candidate
James Fishback entered Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary in November with a campaign launch that shocked even seasoned political observers.
The 30-year-old investment firm CEO who admits he's never voted in a Republican primary called U.S. Representative Byron Donalds — a Black man who could become Florida's first Black governor — "a slave to his donors" during his announcement press conference.¹
Donalds holds President Trump's endorsement and leads the field with 43% support while Fishback polls under 1%.²
But instead of backing away from his inflammatory language, Fishback just made things infinitely worse.
In a recent interview, Fishback defended his "slave" attacks by arguing that Donalds has no right to be offended because his ancestors weren't enslaved in the United States.
"Byron Donalds is a tether. He is not an American descendant of slaves," Fishback claimed. "He is in no position, has no right to be complaining about me calling him a slave when he has absolutely no direct descendant of slavery in his family. He's from Panama. He's from Belize. His dad's from Jamaica."³
https://twitter.com/j_fishback/status/2004569442802667753?s=20
The comments represent a stunning escalation in what was already one of the ugliest attacks seen in Republican politics in recent memory.
Fishback is essentially playing racial genealogist to justify calling a Black Republican a "slave" — arguing that Caribbean heritage somehow makes racist rhetoric acceptable.
Donalds was one of five Black Republicans elected to the current Congress and played a key role in President Trump's campaign outreach to Black voters.
Donalds helped deliver Black male voters who broke from Democrats in droves, putting Trump over the top in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Fishback quotes Mussolini in campaign video
The racist attacks on Donalds weren't enough for Fishback.
Three weeks later on December 13, Fishback filmed himself walking on railroad tracks in the Florida Panhandle and announced he's running for governor to "make the trains run on time."⁴
Anyone who passed high school history knows that's Mussolini's most famous line.
The Italian fascist dictator never actually made the trains run on time — historians have debunked that myth for decades — but it became propaganda to justify authoritarian rule.
Historians note that Mussolini never actually made Italian trains run on time, but the propaganda myth persists as a cautionary tale about fascism.
Fishback made no mention of Mussolini or fascism in his video, but the historical reference was unmistakable to anyone familiar with 20th century history.
The Mussolini reference came just weeks after Fishback had already drawn widespread condemnation for the "slave" attacks on Donalds.
https://twitter.com/ReOpenChris/status/2003582145701323014?s=20
Conservative commentators have noted that Fishback has also praised followers of Nick Fuentes — a white nationalist known for antisemitic views — as "impressive."⁵
When pro-Israel Republican Congressman Randy Fine endorsed Donalds, Fishback falsely claimed Fine was Israeli.
Serious concerns
Fishback is currently facing a lawsuit from his former employer Greenlight Capital, which alleges he misrepresented his role at the company to boost his own investment fund.⁶
Two of his exchange-traded funds were liquidated following the litigation.
Reports also surfaced that Fishback unsuccessfully lobbied the Trump administration for an appointment to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
NBC News reported that despite Fishback's denials, top aides to Governor Ron DeSantis have been in communication with Fishback about his campaign.⁷
Former DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw acknowledged having dinner with Fishback before he entered the race.
Most troubling are reports from earlier this year involving a protective order petition filed by Fishback's ex-fiancée.
The woman alleged they first met in 2021 when she was a 16-year-old high school sophomore and he was 26, and that they began a romantic relationship in 2022 when she was "still a minor."⁸
A judge denied the protective order but called Fishback's manner "odd" and "a little obsessive-compulsive."
https://twitter.com/lucasdimos/status/1997806660904231072?s=20
Fishback denied any wrongdoing and noted no criminal charges were filed.
Trump endorsement of Donalds exposes Fishback as anti-MAGA
Ryan Smith, chief strategist for Byron Donalds' campaign, dismissed Fishback's attacks immediately.
"Byron Donalds will be Florida's next governor because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump," Smith said. "Anyone running against him is an anti-Trump RINO and will get crushed in the Republican primary."⁹
That assessment appears accurate.
Fishback never voted in a Republican primary — not even when Trump first ran in 2016 — yet now demands Republican voters trust him to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Donalds has spent years fighting for conservative policies in Congress since 2021 after serving in the Florida House.
Fishback's campaign platform includes eliminating H-1B visas and blocking AI data centers in Florida — positions that put him at odds with many in the Trump administration.
Disney World even removed Fishback from Disney Springs recently when he attempted to hold an unauthorized political rally at a Starbucks, violating Disney's longstanding policy against political gatherings on its property.¹⁰
https://twitter.com/KingstonBooke2/status/2004725078731489537?s=20
The incident epitomized Fishback's campaign — lots of noise and attention-seeking behavior, but little substance or serious support.
President Trump made clear who he trusts to lead Florida by endorsing Byron Donalds.
Republicans should follow Trump's lead and reject Fishback's toxic campaign of racist attacks, fascist references, and personal destruction.
Florida deserves better than a political newcomer who thinks calling a Black Republican a "slave" becomes acceptable if you first play racial genealogist.
¹ Christine Sexton, "James Fishback enters governor's race; hurls insults at leading Republican Byron Donalds," Florida Phoenix, November 24, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ A.G. Gancarski, "James Fishback argues Byron Donalds shouldn't be offended by 'slave' slur, calls him a 'tether'," Florida Politics, December 27, 2025.
⁴ Daily Caller Staff, "James Fishback Invokes Benito Mussolini In New Campaign Ad," Daily Caller, December 15, 2025.
⁵ Will Sommer, "Meet the First Groyper Politician," The Bulwark, December 13, 2025.
⁶ WFLX Staff, "James Fishback launches run for Florida governor, calls Byron Donalds 'a slave' to donors," WFLX, November 24, 2025.
⁷ NBC News Staff, "Top Ron DeSantis aides have ties to James Fishback, a controversial GOP candidate for Florida governor," NBC News, December 13, 2025.
⁸ Sommer, The Bulwark.
⁹ Sexton, Florida Phoenix.
¹⁰ Disney Dining Staff, "Disney World Removes Florida Republican Candidate From Property After Attempted Political 'Rally'," Disney Dining, December 28, 2025.
