Fried to challenge Trump visit with cost-of-living critique

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried will host a press call Thursday morning to frame Donald Trump's planned Florida visit as a liability for Republican candidates, according to a media advisory released by the state party Wednesday.

Fried plans to use the call—scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, ahead of Trump's Friday appearance—to highlight economic pressures on Florida families and Trump's approval ratings among voters. The advisory notes that a majority of Floridians disapprove of Trump, positioning his visit as potentially damaging rather than helpful to GOP candidates heading into November.

The Democratic Party chair is specifically targeting U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whose district Trump will visit. According to the advisory, Donalds has attempted to distance himself from Trump, including removing references to the president from his campaign website. Fried's office points to gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon, rising healthcare premiums, and grocery costs as evidence that Trump's economic record contradicts Donalds' public "A" rating of the Trump economy.

Journalists interested in joining the call can contact Evan Ecklund at evan@floridadems.org or (832) 977-8151.