Reynolds heads to Trumpland

Left to right: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis/GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images; Kim Reynolds/AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, Donald Trump/Mike Segar/Pool via AP

By Zachary Oren Smith

January 9, 2025

After backing Donald Trump’s main rival Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary, Gov. Kim Reynolds heads to Mar-a-Lago with other Republican governors to bend the knee.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is off to President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate this week. Politico reported that this evening, Republican governors will dine with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

The trip is an important show of loyalty for governors like Reynolds who abandoned Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. The Iowa governor has traditionally made no endorsements in the race. But Reynolds showed early favor for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t even invite her to events!”

In November 2023, Reynolds broke the neutrality norm saying it “feels good to get in the game” by endorsing DeSantis.

“I didn’t see that same opportunity with some of the other candidates when you looked at where they ranked for second choice,” Reynolds said told The Associated Press. “I thought Ron was in a really good place for that.”

As the Trump administration prepares to implement its mass deportations, rebuilding bridges with red state governors like Reynolds will be important. On Monday, the 2025 Iowa Legislative session begins, opening an opportunity for Republican leaders to pass laws that further supplicate the state to the federal government’s deportation activities.

Zachary Oren Smith

Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to [email protected].

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CATEGORIES: TRUMP

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