Global Courant 2023-05-15 00:08:45
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met with Iowa voters in Des Moines after former President Donald Trump canceled his event there, prompting debate over the rationale for Trump’s change of plans.
After a busy day of events in Sioux Center and Cedar Rapids, DeSantis made a surprise trip to Des Moines to talk to voters at Jethro’s BBQ Southside, just minutes from where Trump mentioned the potential for severe weather in canceling his planned Des Moines -meeting.
DeSantis, who has yet to announce a presidential nominee and has avoided addressing the former president directly, appeared to berate Trump in Des Moines, noting that it was a “nice evening.”
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis speak at Jethro’s BBQ Southside in Des Moines, Iowa. (DeSantis political team)
“My other half and I were able to be all over Iowa today, but before we got back to Florida, we wanted to stop by and say hello to the people of Des Moines,” DeSantis told attendees at the BBQ joint, according to the New York Times. “So thank you all for coming. It’s been a beautiful night, it’s been a great day for us.”
The surprise appearance came after Trump’s scheduled rally in Des Moines was abruptly canceled on Saturday. While the campaign cited tornado watches and the potential for severe weather, the statement sparked skepticism among Iowa and state officials. online speculation that the former president may have feared a smaller-than-expected crowd at the event.
“In the interest of safety for everyone in Iowa during the sold-out event in Des Moines, due to the National Weather Service’s Tornado Watch being in effect in Polk and surrounding counties, we were unfortunately forced to postpone the event. We will be there on the first available date,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital in an email Sunday afternoon.
“Trump dominates in poll after poll — both nationally and statewide,” he continued. “There is no one else who can generate as much enthusiasm and support as he does. There were thousands of supporters who signed up for the rally, which would have eclipsed the small crowd that others are so proud of.”
Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Quad City International Airport en route to Iowa on March 13, 2023 in Moline, Illinois. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Trump campaign Twitter account tweeted out a video after the cancellation of the Des Moines rally at which campaign workers go to the home of an elderly couple who support Trump. Campaign staff had hats and other items for the couple and called Trump to thank them for their support and said he looks forward to seeing them and wants them to “stay healthy.”
“I wanted to see you today, but a little thing called tornadoes, they prevailed,” Trump said.
Hours later, however, DeSantis stood on a bench seat to address an enthusiastic gathering of about 150 people, boasting about his Florida record and the work being done in Iowa, saying the results could be shared across the country. repeated. DeSantis then posed for photos with supporters.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis talks to supporters in Des Moines, Iowa. (DeSantis political team)
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“If you’re willing to deliver results, the people are there,” DeSantis said. “They’re going to follow because they just want to see a better future. We did that in Florida. They did that in Iowa. We’ll soon have the opportunity to make sure that’s done in every state in this country. ”
The impromptu performance capped off a busy day in Hawkeye state, where the first votes of the 2024 Republican primary will be cast.
Although DeSantis is not officially a presidential candidate yet, polls show he is the main challenger on the road to Trump’s nomination should he decide to run.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis poses for photos with supporters in Des Moines. (DeSantis political team)
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Florida’s governor has already won the support of a number of high-profile Iowa Republicans, including Senate President Amy Sinclair and House Speaker Matt Windschitl. He revealed more than 30 other recommendations prior to his visit to Iowa. The Trump campaign has also released a list of several Iowa recommendations in recent months.
Michael Lee is a writer at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @UAMichaelLee
