Trump publicly lashes out at Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds after report that she's closer to DeSantis: 'I don’t invite her to events'
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
- Trump lashed out at Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday.
- His comments come after The New York Times reported on Reynolds' closeness to Ron DeSantis.
- Publicly rebuking the popular governor of a key early state is an extremely risky move.
Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds after a report hinted that the Republican governor was closer to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis than she is to the former president.
"I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won," Trump wrote on his Truth, his social media platform. "Now, she wants to remain 'NEUTRAL.' I don't invite her to events!"
The former president publicly criticizing Reynolds, the top Republican official in the home of the first-in-the-nation, could create major headaches for him. Reynolds has added onto a formidable organization that former US ambassador to China Terry Branstad spent years crafting. Trump appointed Branstad to his posting in Beijing, an event that he seems to believe Reynolds owes him for since it opened up the governor's mansion. In short, it means that top strategists and activists in the state remain loyal to her.
Reynolds, in keeping with the usual tradition for Iowa governors, has said she will not endorse before the January 15, 2024 caucuses. Trump's comments come after a New York Times report that detailed how Reynolds is increasingly in the middle of the fighting between Trump and DeSantis.
The Times went in-depth on how Trump feels that Reynolds owes him for becoming governor. The former president's fixation on loyalty has been a cornerstone of his challenge to DeSantis.
Reynolds appeared with DeSantis during all three of his first visits to Iowa. She also co-hosted an event with Casey DeSantis last week as the Florida first lady launched her "Mommas for DeSantis" group. The series of appearances, according to The Times, has sparked annoyance within Trump's orbit.
"Trump advisers have snickered privately about her having neutrality-in-name-only," The Times wrote.
After narrowly surviving her first election to a full term, Reynolds easily romped to reelection in the 2022 midterms. Her time in office has also coincided with Iowa's increasingly conservative shift as Republicans now hold a trifecta in state government. Reynolds has called legislators back for a special session tomorrow in a bid to pass further abortion restrictions.