Republican Governor Calls Out President Trump For “Misleading” Ad

On Monday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called out President Trump for launching a “misleading” ad suggesting she supports him.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds Criticizes Trump for ‘Misleading’ Voters in Campaign Ad
👉https://t.co/XDvIxM0rkx pic.twitter.com/UyiUQH2UvO

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) December 19, 2023

Trump’s campaign released an ad earlier this month including comments from Reynolds praising the former president as being “a partner in the White House” for the Midwest.

This 30 second ad is actively running in Iowa.

Donald Trump has run also included Kim Reynolds on his Iowa literature, implying her endorsement.

He has spent over $23M against DeSantis but $0 against Haley.

Which campaign is the real threat?pic.twitter.com/GoYotsKRR2

— Dustin Grage 🐊 (@GrageDustin) December 15, 2023

From the Epoch Times:

“It’s misleading and it’s not fair to Iowans,” Ms. Reynolds told Fox News Digital on Dec. 19.

“He [President Trump] was upset with me because I was going to stay neutral at the beginning of the campaign for the first-in-the-nation caucus, which I did for seven months,” she added.

Currently in her second term, Gov. Reynolds initially said she would remain neutral in the Republican primary race. However, she has appeared alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on at least eight occasions since he announced his candidacy in late May.

The Iowa caucuses will happen on Jan. 15. Ms. Reynolds said during a campaign rally last month that Mr. DeSantis stands a better chance of winning the 2024 general election than the former president.

Ms. Reynolds mentioned in a Fox News Digital interview that following her endorsement of Mr. DeSantis last month, President Trump deemed it “worthless” and called her “the worst governor in the country.”

Trump continues to attack Gov. Kim Reynolds while on the trail in Iowa.

Citing a Morning Consult poll, Trump again said Reynolds is the most unpopular governor in America. pic.twitter.com/ndj3GYh1VG

— Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) December 14, 2023

“That’s on one hand, and now we look at another hand—he’s using me in a commercial that dates back to 2016 and again [is] misleading Iowans as if I was endorsing him and going back and forth,” she said.

“In 2016 and 2020, I supported President Trump. I endorsed him. I helped him in the state of Iowa. It’s a different day. It’s a different time,” the governor added.

Reynolds calls out Trump for his misleading ads in Iowa:

“When I did endorse [Ron DeSantis] after many months, [Trump] said my endorsement wasn’t worth anything. Then he said I was the worst governor in the country…now he’s using me to mislead Iowans as if I’m endorsing him.” pic.twitter.com/ORDNwQxss6

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) December 19, 2023

Ms. Reynolds said that Iowa residents could thank the former president and then move on. She believes that Iowa needs “somebody that can win” and “can follow through on what they said they were going to do.”

“I have endorsed Ron DeSantis. I’m proud of my endorsement, and I believe he’s the guy that can get this country back on track,” she remarked.

Ms. Reynolds has campaigned with several Republican presidential hopefuls in recent months. In throwing her support behind Mr. DeSantis, she touted him as an accomplished leader worthy of her support.

Her endorsement signifies a major shift as she seeks to rally non-Trump Republicans and narrow the polling gap between Mr. DeSantis and the former president in Iowa and other states.