Former President Donald Trump is taking his "most affirmative step yet" toward a potential 2024 White House run by visiting Iowa this weekend, a "crucial state on the nominating calendar," for the first time since leaving office, writes The Wall Street Journal.
Trump will hold a rally in the state on Saturday evening, amidst "mixed feelings" from Republicans there about a possible bid, reports the Journal.
"My preference is that Donald Trump has a role in the direction of our country and party and some influence over candidates, but I think it would be best for someone else to become the standard-bearer," said Mark Lundberg, a former Republican chairman in Sioux County, one of the most conservative areas in Iowa.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Rich Schwarm, a former state GOP chairman, said that while there is "strong support" for Trump's policies, there are "mixed feelings" about "whether he is the strongest messenger" for the party. Still, "I think he would be the front-runner here if he were to run," said Schwarm.
Others seem to disagree, claiming Trump wouldn't be "assured an easy win in the caucuses" if he confirms a bid. "I don't see an immediate coronation," said Republican activist Mary Kramer. "Even people who have strongly supported him view him as pretty divisive."
A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll released earlier this week indicated Trump has higher favorability in the state than when he was president, "with 53 percent of Iowans — including 91 percent of Republicans — viewing him positively," writes the Journal. The survey did not ask Republicans if they want Trump to run again.
So perhaps he would start from a strong position — but as Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa Jeff Kaufman said, "Even somebody that's getting a 91% approval rating has to make their case for running for the presidency."
-
Air strikes in the Caribbean: Trump’s murky narco-warTalking Point Drug cartels ‘don’t follow Marquess of Queensberry Rules’, but US military air strikes on speedboats rely on strained interpretation of ‘invasion’
-
Calls for both calm and consequences follow Kirk killingTALKING POINTS The suspected assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk has some public figures pleading for restraint, while others agitate for violent reprisals
-
Why does Donald Trump keep showing up at major sporting events?Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Former top FBI agents sue, claiming Trump purgeSpeed Read The agents alleged they were targeted by a “campaign of retribution”
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
Judge lets Cook stay at Fed while appealing ousterSpeed Read Trump had attempted to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to TrumpSpeed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
