Staff Reports
In a scathing video released on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump unloaded on Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa for her endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, a major rival in the 2024 presidential primary. Trump didn’t hold back, calling Reynolds the “most unpopular governor in the entire United States of America,” and mocking her decision to back DeSantis, who is currently trailing Trump by a whopping 50 points in the polls. Trump compared DeSantis to a “wounded bird falling violently from the sky,” suggesting that the endorsement had given him no boost whatsoever.
Trump slams Kim Reynolds as 'most unpopular governor' in US https://t.co/BxGUUsDNyF https://t.co/BxGUUsDNyF
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 21, 2023
Recent polls seem to support Trump’s claims. According to a RealClearPolitics poll average, DeSantis is lagging far behind Trump, with the former president leading by a staggering 45 percentage points. Another poll conducted by Iowa State University/Civiqs also showed Trump as the favored candidate among likely Iowa caucuses GOP attendees, securing 54% of the votes compared to DeSantis’ meager 18%. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley trailed behind at only 12%.
Reynolds made the controversial endorsement earlier this month, despite previously stating that she would remain neutral in the primary. This backtracking didn’t sit well with Trump, who had already clashed with Reynolds over her appearances at campaign events with DeSantis and his wife, Casey DeSantis. In the video, Trump questioned what position Reynolds was promised in exchange for her endorsement, suggesting a possible quid pro quo deal between the two governors.
To drive his point home, Trump proudly touted his administration’s track record of supporting Iowa farmers with ethanol and protecting Social Security and Medicare. He contrasted this with DeSantis and Haley, accusing them of achieving “absolutely nothing.” While DeSantis and Haley are currently engaged in a fierce battle to become the top alternative candidate in the primary race, Trump remains the undisputed front-runner and likely to become the GOP’s next standard-bearer.
It’s no surprise that Governor Reynolds is losing popularity, given her poor judgment in endorsing a candidate who is trailing by such a massive margin. It’s clear that Trump’s influence in the Republican Party is still incredibly strong, overshadowing any attempts at establishing a viable alternative. The fact that DeSantis and Haley have been unable to gain traction shows just how dominant Trump is within the party. As the front-runner, Trump continues to prove that he’s the candidate best suited to lead the GOP into the future.
