Cedar Rapids, Iowa — As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accomplished a presidential marketing campaign milestone Saturday afternoon by visiting all 99 counties in Iowa, former President Donald Trump largely ignored his GOP opponent by taking intention at one other rival, President Biden, as the 2 candidates held dueling rallies within the state.
In an occasion in Cedar Rapids, Trump centered his assaults on Mr. Biden, who he claims is ”destroying American democracy.” Trump seems to be searching for to border the first election as over earlier than any votes have been forged, and focusing his consideration on his 2020 rival.
The Trump marketing campaign Saturday handed out new indicators studying ”Biden assaults Democracy” to rally-goers.
”Joe Biden will not be the defender of American democracy. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy,” Trump mentioned to a crowded gymnasium at Kirkwood Group School, portraying the 91 felony prices he faces throughout 4 felony indictments as politicized.
In a social media publish on his Fact Social platform Wednesday, Trump made the unverified declare that Biden has ”the Justice Division and others suing me wherever and each time doable – WEAPONIZATION, it is known as, and perhaps that may make a distinction.”
Moreover, Trump additionally pledged to nominate a particular prosecutor to ”go after” Mr. Biden if Trump had been to win the presidency in 2024.
Trump’s assaults come as he was dealt two authorized setbacks Friday. A federal choose rejected his try to dismiss the particular counsel’s 2020 election interference case towards him, whereas a federal appeals court docket additionally dominated that Trump will not be entitled to broad immunity from civil lawsuits associated to the Jan. 6 Capitol revolt.
The Biden re-election marketing campaign pushed again on claims that Mr. Biden goes after Trump personally.
”Donald Trump’s America in 2025 is one the place the federal government is his private weapon to lock up his political enemies. You do not have to take our phrase for it — Trump has admitted it himself,” Biden marketing campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa mentioned. ”After spending every week defending his plan to tear well being care away from hundreds of thousands of People, that is his newest determined try at distraction — the American individuals see proper via it and it will not work.”
The selection to concentrate on Mr. Biden as an alternative of the continued Republican presidential main was notable.
Trump talked about DeSantis solely a handful of instances, saying DeSantis’ marketing campaign was falling ”like a really critically wounded fowl,” and repeating claims that he helped get DeSantis elected throughout his 2020 gubernatorial election.
Lower than 100 miles away within the metropolis of Newton, in Jasper County, it was a distinct story for DeSantis, who was finishing a ”full Grassley,” a nickname for a tour of all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
With simply 44 days to go till the Iowa caucus, DeSantis showcased some new assaults on Trump, who has maintained a large benefit over him in state and nationwide polls.
DeSantis argued that finishing his 99-county tour confirmed he considers himself ”a servant, not a ruler. And that is how those that get elected ought to contemplate themselves.”
DeSantis, his marketing campaign and allies typically argue that Trump feels ”entitled” to the GOP nomination, given his comparatively lighter marketing campaign schedule.
”I have been very frank with my view on President Trump’s marketing campaign,” DeSantis mentioned to the group on the Thunderdome, a marriage venue in Jasper County.
He added that Trump is ”campaigning on issues that he promised to do in [2016] and did not ship.” DeSantis cited Trump’s promise to construct a wall on the southern border, his name to ”drain the swamp” in Washington, D.C., and his name to create a so-called ”particular counsel for Democrats.”
DeSantis then turned to Trump’s response through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it ”the improper method.”
”Realizing what we all know now, would you continue to do the identical issues that you’d do? His reply to that query is sure,” DeSantis mentioned. ”And to me that’s disqualifying as a result of this may by no means occur to our nation ever once more,”
DeSantis additionally criticized how, in his closing days as president, Trump gave a presidential commendation to Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illness.
DeSantis additionally accused Trump of not supporting those that had been criminally charged and convicted for his or her involvement within the Jan. 6 Capitol revolt.
”Did he assist the those that acquired caught up within the Capitol stuff, that he informed to go there? Did he give any assist for them? No, however he did give a commendation to Dr. Fauci on his final day in workplace,” DeSantis mentioned.
DeSantis was launched by evangelical chief Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, each of whom have endorsed him. In his introduction, Vander Plaats mentioned that the nation wants a ”God-fearing man,” and argued for Trump supporters to again DeSantis as an alternative.
”Voting for Ron DeSantis will not be towards Donald Trump, it’s about the way forward for our nation,” he mentioned.
Ron Murray, an Iowa voter from Jasper County, the 99th which DeSantis visited, appeared to agree with Vander Plaats pitch. Murray mentioned he was contemplating his choices going into the occasion, however left satisfied he would vote for DeSantis.
”I consider that [DeSantis] is a God-fearing man, and I don’t consider that Trump is,” he mentioned.