As midterm elections approach, Republican candidates weigh how closely to align with Trump

NEW YORK (AP) — “AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. TRUMP CONSERVATIVE.”

The all-caps headline on Texas Republican congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz's website used to align him with President Donald Trump. Not anymore.

“NATIVE TEXAN. AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. PROVEN CONSERVATIVE,” it reads now.

De La Cruz's campaign rejected any suggestion he was backing away from the president, whose knack for mobilizing his loyalists remains critical for Republicans in this fall's midterm elections. The overwhelming majority of Republicans on the ballot this fall are embracing Trump despite his dismal approval ratings, an unpopular war with Iran and lingering inflation.

However, as the two-month sprint to Election Day begins, a small collection of Republican candidates have quietly begun to distance themselves in subtle ways from Trump now that they've won contested primaries in which his endorsement was often the most coveted prize. The shift is easy to miss, often only a few words or new pictures. And Republicans insist there is no shift at all.

Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, called it a “manufactured storyline.”

“President Trump and House Republicans have delivered historic results for the American people, and our candidates are eager to take that record directly to voters alongside the President on the campaign trail,” he said.

But from California to Texas and Kentucky to Alaska, candidates in recent weeks have tweaked their campaign messaging to downplay their connection to Trump. A handful of others have highlighted their opposition to his policies.

It's an extremely delicate balance for vulnerable Republican candidates, who must expand their appeal beyond Trump's MAGA base to win in the general election this fall, but are also afraid to trigger a backlash from Trump or his hard core supporters if they create too much distance.

Most candidates are still wrapping their arms around Trump.

Republican allies of the president argue there is little upside for candidates to turn away from Trump, despite his weak polling numbers. Democrats will try to cast every Republican running as a Trump acolyte, regardless of their actual stances, they said, and midterm successes typically depend on turning out base voters. Trump remains the Republican Party's best motivator.

“The whole Republican brand is that we’re aligned with Trump so you gain nothing from it,” said Jason Roe, a Republican who advises Rep. Tom Barrett, who is fighting for reelection in a competitive mid-Michigan district race.

It is typical for candidates from both sides to tweak their messages after primary elections. Some Democrats, for example, have begun pitching themselves as moderates after highlighting endorsements from progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders during their primaries.

Still, the slight shift among at least a half-dozen Republican congressional candidates could signal the beginning of a more significant move within the party as the weight of Trump's unpopularity with the general public comes into view at a critical moment. Just 33% of adults approve of Trump's job performance, according to Associated Press-NORC polling from July. And Trump gets relatively poor ratings on his handling of the economy, immigration and foreign policy.

Meanwhile, Trump will not make it easy for vulnerable Republicans to avoid him. As voters typically begin paying much closer attention to politics after Labor Day, the president will headline a two-day Republican convention in Dallas as he urges voters to act as if he were on the ballot.

“The problem that we have is they say that Trump does great when he’s on the ballot, but when he’s not on the ballot, his people don’t come,” Trump said as he recently stumped in South Carolina.

“So what I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” he went on. “Just say that I’m on the ballot one more time.”

A number of Republicans have removed or downplayed references to Trump from their websites after winning their primaries.

Eric Flores, a former assistant U.S. Attorney and Texas Army National Guard infantry captain running against Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez Jr. in South Texas, once featured “SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA” as No. 2 in his list of priorities on his campaign homepage.

That item has now been replaced with “ LOWER THE COST OF LIVING,” a top issue for voters. Trump does not appear anywhere else on the website, aside from a list of endorsements that previously appeared on the homepage but has been moved to a separate page.

Flores' campaign declined to comment.

In Kentucky, Ralph Alvarado, running to represent the overwhelmingly Republican 6th Congressional District, removed all references to Trump from his campaign homepage, as well as a photo of the two of them together after winning his primary in May. He now promises to offer “INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP” after previously running as an “AMERICA FIRST FIGHTER.”

NBC News first reported the changes to Alvarado’s website. Campaign manager Andy Westberry noted Trump's photo still appears elsewhere in a media gallery. “The socialists are going to have to do a lot better than this nonsense to win this district,” he said in a statement.

Some changes do not mean Trump has been erased.

While De La Cruz no longer touts himself as a “TRUMP CONSERVATIVE” at the top of his homepage, a video that is embedded lower down features the Air Force veteran speaking at a Trump rally.

He still calls himself a “TEXAS TRUMP CONSERVATIVE” on his bio page and lists “Supporting President Trump’s America First Agenda” as among his priorities on a “Mission” page.

But the bio section has also been tweaked. It once described him as “ready to be President Trump’s wingman in Congress.” That section now says he is running because he “believes America needs more servant leaders and fewer corrupt politicians” and “because he’s not finished serving the country he loves.”

De La Cruz campaign manager Jordan Pawlicki said in a statement that, during the primary, several candidates were claiming the president’s endorsement, so the campaign “put it front and center.”

“Carlos is honored to have President Trump’s support, which is why the President is featured prominently across our website,” Pawlicki said.

In Nevada, Republican congressional candidate Marty O'Donnell's website featured Trump prominently in June. The very first thing visitors saw was a pop-up with a large picture of Trump and a smiling O'Donnell standing side by side. The words “President Trump endorsed Marty O'Donnell” were written beneath the image.

Two months later, the photo does not appear on the website. O'Donnell's campaign said the photo was not intentionally removed; the change was simply the standard rotation of the “splash page.”

O'Donnell adviser Keith Schipper noted that O'Donnell, a music composer best known for his work on the “Halo” video game series, has not deviated from his steadfast support for Trump.

“Republicans are embracing President Trump on the campaign trail because they know he is the key to getting his voters out in November,” Schipper said. “The president has delivered on the agenda he promised voters in 2024 and Republicans are smartly using it to win this year.”

There was another subtle shift in Alaska's House race, where Republican Rep. Nick Begich is running for reelection.

In June, he highlighted his relationship to Trump on the homepage of his website: “Alongside President Trump, we have made great gains for Alaska, putting us on a path to self-determination and generational success.”

This week, nothing in that section has been changed, except for the opening line that previously mentioned Trump. Now, that line reads, “We have delivered for Alaska, putting us on a path to self-determination and generational success.”

Begich's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican who represents a district carried by Kamala Harris in the last election, appeared on stage with the president during a rally in his district just three months ago. But does he want Trump to return before Election Day?

“If he comes back, that’s fine, but ultimately this race is going to be decided by my record and my vision,” Lawler said in an interview.

Lawler supported Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill,” but he’s quick to highlight policy differences, especially on taxes. Trump does not appear on Lawler’s campaign website.

Others want distance from Trump's unpopular war with Iran.

In Michigan, Rep. Barrett, who flipped a Lansing-area district two years ago, has been highlighting his vote against Trump’s war in Iran on the campaign trail as he competes against William Lawrence, a self-described democratic socialist.

Barrett this year has repeatedly broken ranks with Republicans to join Democrats in voting for the War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump’s military campaign in Iran. And he has been promoting those votes, promoting a recent town hall with constituents, by saying he would “be having a discussion about the War Powers Act and my efforts to place congressional limits on the war in Iran.”

Roe, the Republican who advises Barrett, said the vote was not about some major break from Trump but a difference over a policy-specific issue. Barrett served in the U.S. Army for over two decades.

“He’s willing to be at odds with the White House on this issue,” Roe said. “It’s important to him.”

FILE - Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at an event with President Donald Trump at Rockland Community College, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Suffern, N.Y. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump listens as a reporter asks a question in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

MIAMI (AP) — Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate both took the witness stand in federal court on Thursday and said they can’t adequately defend themselves from criminal sex charges if they have to remain in a Miami jail while fighting extradition to the United Kingdom.

During nearly two hours in a Miami courtroom, the Tates, in shackles and tan jail jumpsuits, denied under oath criminal accusations across multiple countries, blasted their critics and described their brash online personas that exude wealth and excess as characters and not their true personalities.

Prosecutors rejected the brothers' claim they are just acting. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abbie Waxman told a judge that Andrew Tate is accused of choking and holding victims and raping them while Tristan Tate is accused of human trafficking, money laundering and violence against minors.

The brothers also face sex crime charges in Romania and prosecutors said they have contacted witnesses in that case and talked about it on video.

“They promote incredible violence against women consistent with the allegations against them," Waxman said.

Andrew Tate maintained his innocence on the stand. He said he can't work with his Romanian lawyers while in jail in America and fears his absence will mean an unfair life sentence in Eastern Europe.

“If I lose a fair fight I can take it," he said.

Lawyers for the Tates are asking a judge to allow them to be freed from custody at least until an extradition hearing can be held on their U.K. rape and trafficking charges. They have remained in a federal detention center in Miami since they were arrested July 18.

Their attorneys argued that their high profile and active social media presence make it nearly impossible for them to flee.

The U.K.’s request was out of line because their criminal case in Romania is going first. Romanian officials have let them remain free until the proceedings conclude and they have not tried to flee and are complying with all court restrictions.

The judge reminded defense attorneys she has to follow U.S. laws. Prosecutors said the serious U.K. charges increased the risk for the Tates.

No date for an extradition hearing has been set. The U.K. has until mid-September to provide evidence to the State Department.

Prosecutors said the brothers appear to have money and have bragged about multiple passports.

The Tates said their claims of wealth are largely exaggerated to boost their social media personas. They said luxury items like the $50 million yacht or $2.1 million Aston Martin car seen in their videos don’t belong to them.

But prosecutors showed a passport for “Vladimir Scorpio” from Mexico with Tristan Tate’s date of birth and photo. They said it has a real Mexican identification number. They also told the judge the brothers have shown no evidence the luxury boat or cars were rented or borrowed.

The Tates have become among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities by promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny through their social media empire.

Andrew Tate, 39, has said women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for the attacks and shared graphic descriptions of how he might attack women. Tristan Tate, 38, has worked with his brother on multiple businesses, including the production of online webcam pornography.

On his way into court Thursday, defense attorney Joseph McBride told reporters he hasn’t heard of a case where U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis has allowed someone out on bail while awaiting an extradition hearing.

But while the odds aren’t in their favor, McBride felt like the truth was. He called them innocent, good men who have never run from the law.

In court, Tristan Tate was called to the stand Thursday and said he can't prove he is innocent if he is kept in jail.

“I need to clear my name. I need to take part in these proceedings, I can’t do that from the secure housing unit," he said.

Both brothers also complained of conditions at the Miami jail. Tristan Tate said there are ants and the only toilet in his cell is where anyone walking by can see him. He said he has lost 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) eating mostly junk food in the nearly six weeks he has been in custody.

Andrew Tate testified that people are confusing him with a character he plays online. He said people who accuse him of attacking women or supporting human trafficking are taking his comments out of context.

“On the internet, you have to shake people out of apathy," he said.

The former professional kickboxers, who have dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship, have millions of social media followers and are vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. The White House has said the brothers shouldn’t expect any help from the president.

Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

Attorney Joseph McBride, right, who represents Andrew and Tristan Tate as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom on charges of rape and sex trafficking, speaks to news media before a bond hearing at the C. Clyde Atkins U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Azeneth Gregoira, a supporter of Andrew and Tristan Tate, holds a sign supporting the brothers outside the C. Clyde Atkins U.S. Courthouse before a bond hearing as the Tates fight extradition to the United Kingdom on rape and sex trafficking charges, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Attorneys Joseph McBride, center, and Andrew Ford, right, who represent Andrew and Tristan Tate as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom on charges of rape and sex trafficking, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, arrive for a bond hearing at the C. Clyde Atkins U.S. Courthouse, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Attorney Joseph McBride, right, who represents Andrew and Tristan Tate as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom on charges of rape and sex trafficking, speaks to the news media before a bond hearing at the C. Clyde Atkins U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)