Transcript: Rep. Byron Donalds on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Aug. 23, 2026
The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida and candidate for Florida governor, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
On August 23, 2026, Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida and the party's gubernatorial nominee, appeared on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. Donalds, as a sitting congressman, discussed his gubernatorial campaign, focusing on health policy and immigration.
He acknowledged that Florida had been a leader in rolling back vaccine mandates, particularly for polio and MMR vaccines under the Department of Health. Donalds agreed with Governor DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Ladapo's decisions, stating that the matter required further study and collaboration with the legislature. He also mentioned President Trump's role in reversing the vaccine schedule concentration.
When discussing healthcare costs, Donalds criticized the Affordable Care Act, citing rising premiums, out-of-control deductibles, and the lack of price transparency for top services. He proposed price transparency, requiring doctors' offices and hospitals to display the real cash price for the top 20 services they provide. Donalds argued that this approach would help Floridians make informed decisions about their healthcare and stabilize prices.
Regarding measles outbreaks, Donalds blamed illegal immigration, specifically citing the influx of individuals who had not received the necessary vaccinations. He suggested that controlling immigration was crucial to preventing such outbreaks. However, he clarified his stance on legal immigrants, emphasizing the importance of legal immigration and assimilation.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
