Several GOP presidential candidates will travel to Iowa and join Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) for her “Fair Side Chats” at the Iowa State Fair, but there will be a notable exception: former President Donald Trump.
Trump will not join his primary competitors in conducting a one-on-one interview with the governor, the schedule of which was announced by Reynolds on Tuesday. The Iowa State Fair comes ahead of the Iowa caucuses, one of the Republican Party‘s most significant events in the 2024 election.
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“I am so proud that I get to have the opportunity to introduce these candidates to Iowans at an event so near and dear to my heart,” Reynolds said in a statement. “The Iowa State Fair showcases the best of Iowa — from our people to our culture and wonderful agriculture industry — and it’s the perfect venue for a conversation with the candidates.”
Larry Elder will appear on Aug. 10. Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), former Vice President Mike Pence, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez will speak on Aug. 11, and Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will interview on Aug. 12. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will speak on Aug. 15, and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd and Ryan Binkley will appear on Aug. 18.
Neither Trump nor former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will appear onstage with Reynolds. Steven Cheung, Trump’s spokesman, said in a statement to Iowa’s News Now that Trump will be at the fair.
“President Trump looks forward to interacting with tens of thousands of Iowans at the fair in an open and unfiltered setting,” Cheung said.
Trump’s absence from the Fair Side Chats comes after the former president confirmed a feud with Reynolds, blasting her for remaining neutral in the Republican candidate campaigns. He claimed to be responsible for Reynolds’s election to governor.
“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events!” the former president posted to Truth Social in mid-July.
Republican strategists believe Trump’s feud with the Iowa governor is a “mistake” and could affect the state’s voters heading into the first-in-the-nation caucuses. Several 2024 presidential hopefuls have leaped to the defense of Reynolds.
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Iowa Republican leaders are reportedly beginning to grow tired of Trump’s antics and are setting their sights on an alternate GOP candidate despite supporting him in the last two presidential elections.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Christie’s campaign for comment.
