Gone was the helicopter, but Donald Trump on Saturday renewed his reputation for defying norms and creating a mega-celebrity spectacle at the Iowa State Fair.
Trump, in fewer than two hours on the steaming fairgrounds in Des Moines, attracted thousands of sweating, chanting supporters to his stops at the Iowa Pork Producers tent, a baby farm animal exhibit, and a popular Grand Concourse pub.
All the while, Trump not-so-subtly tried to set himself apart from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main rival with more than five months until Iowa’s leadoff caucuses and who was on the fairgrounds at the same time.
Just as DeSantis and his family were wrapping up their day at the fair, meeting with Iowa Republican leaders and activists, Trump descended into the huge scrum of backers accompanied by about a dozen Florida U.S. House members, a shot at DeSantis who is making an aggressive pitch to Iowa Republicans.
Trump spoke little to the public in his brief time at the fair, except to talk individually to some fairgoers. However, he repeated during remarks to hundreds crammed into the fair favorite “Steer and Stein” the disproved claim that the 2020 Election was “rigged,” and that “we got millions and millions more votes.”
Instead, while most candidates seeking caucus support tout Iowa political endorsements, Trump spent most of his public remarks introducing Florida lawmakers who traveled with him to Iowa. The effort, Trump aides said, demonstrates feelings of those who know DeSantis best, but also clearly stoke outrage among those who feel the former President has been persecuted with the two federal indictments he now faces.
“So, to all my friends in Iowa when you see them come for this man, know that they are coming for this movement, and they are coming for all of us,” said Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Before taking his three children to ride bumper cars and the Ferris wheel, DeSantis boasted about the delegation of Iowa lawmakers that flanked him when reporters asked about the Florida representatives surrounding Trump.
“I think it’s fine to bring folks in from Washington, but I think Iowans really are more concerned about the people in their communities,” he said.
DeSantis and other candidates at the fair called out Trump for his criticism of Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has taken a pledge of neutrality and hosted a series of one-on-one conversations that most GOP candidates accepted but Trump declined.
“That’s just how he operates, to attack one of the best Governors in the country,” DeSantis said. “I think as Republicans we should be thankful and proud to see other Republicans doing well.”
Most candidates effused praise on Reynolds throughout their appearances at the fair and enjoyed her company on walks around the fairground or flipping pork burgers.
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he was “for Gov. Kim Reynolds before it was cool.” Business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy encouraged fairgoers to give her a round of applause.
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Reprinted with permission of The Associated Press.
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