Current:Home > InvestTrump skips Iowa evangelical group's Republican candidate event and feuds with GOP Iowa governor-LoTradeCoin
Trump skips Iowa evangelical group's Republican candidate event and feuds with GOP Iowa governor
View Date:2024-12-23 23:30:59
Former President Donald Trump won't be among the GOP presidential candidates gathering in Des Moines Friday for the Family Leadership summit, which is expected to attract over 2,000 Iowa GOP voters.
Bob Vander Plaats, the president and CEO of the Family Leader, told CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns that Trump is "making a mistake" by skipping the group's annual conference.
"He is choosing not to show up, and I don't think it is just a smart idea on his part," Vander Plaats said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to sign the state's new six-week abortion ban into law at the summit Friday. Trump is also feuding with her because Reynolds won't endorse him before the Iowa caucuses. She has said she won't endorse anyone during the primaries.
Trump recently lashed out at Reynolds on social media, posting that he "opened up the governor position for Kim Reynolds and when she fell behind I endorsed her….now she wants to remain neutral." In addition to endorsing her, Trump appears to be claiming credit for enabling her to win the governor's race because he appointed her predecessor, former Gov. Terry Branstad, to be ambassador to China during his administration.
Vander Plaats also called out Trump for picking a fight with Reynolds. He told CBS News that Trump poses the "biggest risk" for Republicans "to not win back the White House."
He argues candidates who are "right on the sanctity of life" are "going to get a lot of other issues right" and believes Iowans want GOP presidential candidates to express their stance on abortion clearly.
"We believe there is a role for the federal government — the big thing we're looking for from candidates is what is clarity and message that we can trust that you will be a champion for the sanctity of human life," Vander Plaats said.
He went to praise Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as "the clear alternative right now" to Trump. Vander Plaats predicted that "if Trump wins Iowa, that's it" but "if he gets beat here, then I think whoever beats him here, it's 'game on' [for] the nomination."
Unlike Reynolds, Vander Plaats said he plans to endorse a candidate in December, ahead of the mid-January Iowa caucuses and indicated that Trump was unlikely to receive his support.
"My fear is too much of American has made up their mind on the former president. They want a new generational leader," Vander Plaats said. "For me, I do believe it is probably time that we turn the page."
- In:
- Iowa
- Evangelicals
- Donald Trump
- Ron DeSantis
CBS News reporter covering the intersection between politics and tech.
TwitterveryGood! (398)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
- Judge agrees to let George Santos summer in the Poconos while criminal case looms
- Nevadans vote in Senate primaries with competitive general election on horizon
- You'll Be Sliving for Paris Hilton's Update on Her and Nicole Richie's New Show
- The Best Gifts for Men – That He Won’t Want to Return
- Florida jury finds Chiquita Brands liable for Colombia deaths, must pay $38.3M to family members
- Nevada Republicans prepare to choose a candidate to face Jacky Rosen in critical Senate race
- President offers love and pride for his son’s addiction recovery after Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict
- MLS Star Marco Angulo Dead at 22 One Month After Car Crash
- Slogging without injured MVP (again), Atlanta Braves facing an alternate October path
Ranking
- NY forest ranger dies fighting fires as air quality warnings are issued in New York and New Jersey
- Older worker accuses defense contractor of discriminating by seeking recent college grads
- US opts for experience and versatility on Olympic women’s basketball roster, passes on Caitlin Clark
- Orson Merrick: Gann's Forty-Five Years on Wall Street 12 Rules for Trading Stocks
- Voters in California city reject measure allowing noncitizens to vote in local races
- Michigan couple, attorney announced as winners of $842.4 million Powerball jackpot
- Slogging without injured MVP (again), Atlanta Braves facing an alternate October path
- Eastern Ohio voters are deciding who will fill a congressional seat left vacant for months
Recommendation
-
Brittany Cartwright Defends Hooking Up With Jax Taylor's Friend Amid Their Divorce
-
Michigan couple, attorney announced as winners of $842.4 million Powerball jackpot
-
Ohio city orders apartment building evacuation after deadly blast at neighboring site
-
The 10 Best Sexy Perfumes That’ll Immediately Score You a Second Date
-
At age 44, Rich Hill's baseball odyssey continues - now with Team USA
-
Dick Van Dyke makes history with Emmys win – and reveals how he got the part that won
-
Kristin Cavallari Says She Was Very Thin Due to Unhappy Marriage With Jay Cutler
-
WNBA power rankings: Liberty, Sun pace league, while Mystics head toward ill-fated history