Former President Donald Trump criticized a Republican governor for failing to support him, specifically targeting Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. However, it should be noted that Governor Reynolds has not yet endorsed any candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Nevertheless, her preference seems evident when it comes to the competition between Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both Republicans.
On July 7, Trump organized a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, attracting a crowd of over 2,000 potential voters. However, one notable absence was Governor Reynolds, a prominent Republican figure.
According to one of her aides, Governor Reynolds was not invited to the event. The Trump team had previously considered her to have a standing invitation to all their candidate’s events, but on July 10, Trump himself contradicted that notion. He criticized Reynolds for not endorsing his new presidential run and explicitly stated, “I don’t invite her to events!”
The relationship between Trump and Reynolds is complex. Reynolds assumed the role of governor in 2017 after Trump appointed her predecessor as an ambassador to China. With Trump’s support, she narrowly won the subsequent election in 2018. In June, Trump claimed that Reynolds wouldn’t have won without his backing, a statement that seemingly surprised Reynolds.
However, she had already secured re-election in November 2022 with a significantly larger majority, and without Trump’s endorsement. Despite criticizing the Biden Justice Department for its relentless pursuit of Trump, Reynolds has gained popularity as a politician in her own right.
Despite stating her intention to remain neutral in the race for the Republican nomination in the upcoming year, there are observers who believe that Reynolds clearly favors DeSantis. While she has appeared alongside multiple candidates, her affinity for the Florida governor is evident.
Reports suggest that they have a close relationship, being on first-name terms, and friends have noted a bond formed during the pandemic when they both resisted federal pressure to impose lockdowns and worked to keep their states operational.
Interestingly, DeSantis has publicly praised Reynolds, stating that she is someone who could be considered for various positions that a president could appoint. This raises the question of whether DeSantis, if he secures the GOP nomination next year, would choose Reynolds as his vice-presidential running mate.
