Byron Donalds faces criticism over exchange with transgender activist

Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds was involved in a tense exchange with a transgender activist during a statewide bus tour. The confrontation began when the unidentified individual questioned Donalds regarding his stance on the Jeffrey Epstein files and recent anti-trans political mailers.

During the interaction, Donalds repeatedly addressed the activist using the term “sir.” Despite the individual correcting him by stating, “I am not a sir, I am a ma’am,” Donalds continued to use the masculine pronoun, at one point remarking, “I’m listening to the voice, and I hear a sir.”

The exchange drew vocal reactions from bystanders, including one woman who criticized Donalds for his choice of words. Donalds defended his record by noting his vote to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The incident occurred as Donalds campaigns for the Florida governorship against Democrat David Jolly.