Republican South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds has removed several references to President Donald Trump from his campaign website as the midterm election approaches. The change follows a period of declining poll numbers for the incumbent, who is seeking a third term in one of the nation's most conservative states. While the campaign maintains that Trump's endorsement remains visible in key areas, the scrubbing of specific text marks a subtle distancing from the president amid his struggling popularity ratings. A Fox News poll conducted last month found that voters gave Trump a 39% approval rating for his performance. Key issues driving this sentiment included the cost of living, grocery and fuel prices, and the ongoing war in Iran. These factors have created a challenging environment for Republicans running for re-election, with several candidates attempting to manage their association with the White House. Rounds previously served as South Dakota governor and state senator before entering the U.S. Senate. He is currently facing an independent challenger, Brian Bengs, who ran against Senate Majority Leader John Thune in 2022. Thune defeated Bengs in that general election with over 70% of the vote. According to the Cook Political Report, South Dakota remains classified as "Solidly Republican," a designation that has not changed despite recent political shifts in other states. Unlike other red-state races where Republican candidates have openly opposed specific Trump policies, such as the war in Iran or data center initiatives, Rounds' strategy appears more measured. Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa and former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan have publicly criticized aspects of the administration's agenda. In South Dakota, the removal of Trump's name from the "Issues" page and the homepage banners was noted by Fox News Digital after comparing current and archived versions of the site. Rob Skjonsberg, a campaign advisor for Rounds, told Fox News Digital that not all mentions were removed. "The president's endorsement is still front and center on the website in Mike's announcement video," Skjonsberg said. He added that focusing on general election messaging is a standard practice as the race heats up. Trump endorsed Rounds last year, praising him on Truth Social as an "incredibly strong advocate" for South Dakota and stating that he has Rounds' "Complete and Total Endorsement." Bengs responded to the website changes in a statement to Fox News Digital, suggesting the move was driven by polling data rather than policy disagreements. "I'm not running against the President," Bengs said. He argued that the timing of the removals, which occurred only after Rounds' poll numbers dropped and large donors began buying ads, indicated a focus on saving the incumbent's campaign rather than a stance on the Iran war or tariffs. Bengs also challenged Rounds to a debate, aiming to discuss these issues directly with voters. The Rounds campaign dismissed these criticisms, with Skjonsberg characterizing Bengs as a "carpet bagger" attempting to distract from his own positions. The advisor attributed Bengs' comments to a "Biden communications firm" and reiterated that the campaign remains proud of Trump's support.