Governor Reynolds finds out the hard way – Trump burns EVERYONE
Did Trump just lose the Iowa caucuses?
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds just found out what should be obvious to anyone. If you kiss up to Donald Trump, eventually you will get burned.
Reynolds has done some major cuddling with Trump for years now. But Trump just disinvited her from the MAGA party. He posted on social media “I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events!”
Reynolds is doing the right thing by officially remaining neutral during the upcoming Republican presidential caucus cycle. She rightly wants all GOP contenders to campaign here without feeling that the governor has her finger on the scale.
Make no mistake what this is about. The New York Times reported over the weekend that while Reynolds is officially remaining neutral, she has been cozying up to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – Trump’s leading challenger for the nomination. Team Trump has noticed and they’re not happy.
The two governors from Iowa and Florida have been in lockstep for a long time on issues like mask mandates, funding private schools with tax dollars, abortion, and making the media the enemy. Reynolds has appeared with DeSantis on three of his four visits to Iowa this year. Last week, she was on stage with DeSantis’ wife, Casey, at her “Mamas for DeSantis” campaign rally in Johnston.
Trump comment doesn’t go over well
Trump appears to have stepped in it when campaigning in western Iowa last month. He said of Reynolds, “I hate to say it, without me, you know, she was not going to win. You know that, right?” The Times reports Reynolds did not take kindly to that remark. It’s true that Trump appointed Terry Branstad as ambassador to China, clearing the way for then Lt. Governor Reynolds to ascend to the throne. The Trump comment “I ENDORSED HER, did big Rallies…” refers to Reynolds’ tough re-election campaign against Fred Hubbell in 2018, which she won by a mere three points.
Reynolds has been a loyal Trump acolyte for years. She backed a ridiculous lawsuit by now-disgraced Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that claimed President Biden stole the 2020 election. She defended Trump following his two criminal indictments, saying the federal indictment in the secret documents case was “a sad day for America.” But it wasn’t enough. It’s NEVER enough for Trump, who demands complete loyalty. Even a governor who remains “neutral” gets tossed from the Trump train.
When will people learn?
Trump eventually turns on EVERYONE in his orbit.
There was an illuminating interview a couple of weeks ago on Fox News, of all places. Anchor Bret Baier questioned Trump about all his former staffers who have either turned on him or him on them. Baier started by reminding Trump of his 2016 campaign pledge that he was “going to surround himself with only the best and most serious people.” Baier then runs through a long list of former aides who opposed him. Mike Pence and Nikki Haley are running against him. Former Attorney General Bill Barr says Trump should never be president again. Trump called Barr “a gutless pig.”
Baier says “This week you called your White House chief of staff John Kelly “weak and ineffective’ and ‘born with a very small brain.’ You called your acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney ‘a born loser.’” Baier finishes the pummeling with the roundhouse question, “So why did you hire all of them in the first place?”
The better question is why did these people take jobs with Trump? The allure of having “White House aide” on your resume must be so great that people can’t resist kissing up to someone like Trump, even though they may end up indicted, in prison or at minimum the subject of schoolyard insults from the man-child who wants to be president again.
When will people learn? Eventually, every prominent Iowa Republican who supports Trump will get burned because they can never do enough. Senator Charles Grassley, a few months removed from criticizing Trump for inspiring the January 6th riot at the Capitol, gladly accepted Trump’s endorsement as Grassley ran for re-election last year. Grassley said, “I was born at night, but not last night. So, if I didn’t accept the endorsement of a person that’s got 91 percent of Republican voters in Iowa, I wouldn’t be too smart. I’m smart enough to accept that endorsement.” Mark my words – it’s only a matter of time before Trump starts making fun of Grassley. And Joni Ernst. And Ashley Hinson. If they don’t believe me, they should call Governor Reynolds.
Has Trump just handed Iowa to DeSantis?
The bigger question: Did Trump just lose the Iowa caucuses? Tossing Kim Reynolds off the campaign bus doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do. Iowa Republicans can point to a lot of recent Reynolds accomplishments. She will give them another one this week by signing a bill banning abortions after six weeks. More than 29,000 Iowans applied for taxpayer handouts to private schools. What has Trump done for them lately? His accomplishments have faded in the rearview mirror. He talks more about the past than the future. Trump’s temper tantrum may have accomplished the exact opposite of what he wanted. He may have handed Iowa to Ron DeSantis.
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Once again, brilliant Dave! And a true feel good column! Thanks for proving your insight!
Spot-on as usual, Dave. Kimmy has many fans here, so Trump did himself no favor. Polls never tell the whole story, which 2016 proves. His big lead will dwindle; every time he shoots off his mouth he shoots himself in the foot. And Jack Smith is coming after him like a dog.