Trump’s Iowa state fair spectacle clouds DeSantis as former president is joined by Florida officials

The helicopter was absent, but on Saturday, Donald Trump revived his flair for unconventional behavior and staged a sensational scene at the Iowa State Fair.

In less than two hours at the humid fairgrounds in Des Moines, Trump drew a crowd of thousands of fervent, chanting fans to his appearances at the Iowa Pork Producers booth, a baby farm animal showcase, and the well-liked Grand Concourse pub.

Trump also used the occasion to subtly distinguish himself from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his primary competitor with the Iowa caucuses over five months away, who was also present at the fairgrounds.

While DeSantis and his family were concluding their fair visit, Trump entered the massive crowd of supporters, flanked by roughly twelve Florida U.S. House members. This was seen as a direct challenge to DeSantis, who is aggressively courting Iowa Republicans.

In his brief time at the fair, Trump did not address the public much, but he did reiterate to those gathered at the “Steer and Stein” the unfounded assertion that the 2020 election was “rigged.” He also introduced Florida legislators who accompanied him, an act that Trump’s aides said underlined the sentiment of those closest to DeSantis but also provoked anger among those who believe Trump has been unfairly targeted with the two federal indictments he now faces.

In response to Trump’s actions, DeSantis highlighted his own delegation of state lawmakers and emphasized the importance of local concerns to Iowans. He and other candidates criticized Trump for his attack on Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has remained neutral.

Praise for Reynolds was common among other candidates, while Trump tried to mitigate tension with her, even taking credit for her election success.

For Trump’s campaign team, there appeared to be no worries about his recent federal felony indictment. During a brief conversation with reporters, he dismissed inquiries about the indictment and legal orders, labeling them as politically motivated.

Trump’s appearance at the fair was characterized by bold gestures, such as having his Boeing 757 circle the fairgrounds as DeSantis was at the Iowa Pork Producers tent, reminiscent of his 2015 spectacle when he offered children helicopter rides.

The rivalry between Trump and DeSantis has been evident, with DeSantis lagging behind Trump in polls but considered a formidable potential challenger. Cheers for Trump rang out at his three stops, and though his visit was extraordinary in many ways, he did conform to state fair tradition by brandishing a pork chop on a stick to the audience, symbolizing his connection with the crowd.

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