Former President Donald Trump Returns to Iowa State Fair, Rivals Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Former President Donald Trump made a splash at the Iowa State Fair this weekend, stealing the spotlight from his chief rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump arrived at the fair in his private plane, just as DeSantis was flipping pork chops and greeting potential GOP caucus-goers.
The 2024 Republican presidential race was on full display as both Trump and DeSantis joined the crowd of thousands at the fair. While DeSantis was participating in the traditional Iowa State Fair activities, Trump took a different approach, defying tradition to draw a massive crowd and highlight his continued support within the GOP base.
Despite facing the possibility of his fourth indictment in the coming days, Trump remains a prominent figure in Republican politics. He has consistently portrayed his legal troubles as politically motivated, using them to fuel his fundraising efforts for the party.
In an apparent effort to troll DeSantis, Trump arrived in Iowa with a group of members of Congress from Florida who have endorsed him over their state’s governor. The group, which included Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Carlos Gimenez, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube, and Mike Waltz, distributed flyers critical of DeSantis’ record on agriculture.
The flyers, which questioned DeSantis’ ability to support Iowa’s agricultural industry, were passed out as DeSantis grilled pork chops at the fair. It remains unclear if the distribution of the flyers was organized by paid campaign staff or volunteers. The flyer itself was labeled as being paid for by “Donald J. Trump for President 2024, INC.”
Upon his arrival at the fair, Trump made his way through the crowd, greeting supporters and eventually reaching the “pork chop on a stick” stand. Supporters chanted “USA” as he moved through the fairgrounds.
Unlike DeSantis, Trump did not participate in grilling pork chops himself. Instead, he addressed a crowd of supporters and members of Congress from Florida on a riser. He used the opportunity to deliver a brief speech, expressing his gratitude for the support he has received from Iowa over the years and urging the crowd to stay strong.
DeSantis, on the other hand, faced a mix of both praise and heckling as he navigated the fairgrounds. He described the mixed reaction as “a sign of strength” and remained optimistic about his ability to win over those who may not initially support him. He emphasized that “average Americans” are open to a new direction and that he believes he can bring them over to his side.
The clash between Trump and DeSantis at the Iowa State Fair offers a glimpse into the competitive nature of the 2024 Republican primary. As both potential candidates vie for support within the party, their appearances at events like the Iowa State Fair will continue to shape the narrative of the race.