Former President Donald Trump appeared to once again endorse Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, and told reporters on Saturday that he had “got her elected.”
President Trump made the statement on Saturday during a brief visit to the Iowa State Fair, telling reporters that Reynolds credited him with winning the election for the first time in 2018. Trump has repeatedly criticized Reynolds, who has vowed to remain neutral in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. She ignored her invitation to join her in her “fireside chat” on Saturday.
“President, did you speak to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds recently? Is there a reason she isn’t here today?” asked a reporter.
“I have a very good relationship with her,” Trump said. complied.
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Former President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for not endorsing his 2024 re-election campaign.
“We held rallies and she ended up attending rallies. I love her so much, that’s why I started rallying for her,” he added.
It’s the first time Trump has outraged Reynolds’ neutrality since he posted on social media in early July that he would refuse to invite her to an “event” unless Reynolds endorsed it.
President Trump said at the time, “I gave Kim Reynolds the governorship, and I stood by her when she backed down, held massive rallies, and she won. Now she’s ‘neutral.’ I want to,” he wrote.
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Reynolds has invited all of the 2024 Republican candidates to join her in a “fairside chat” at the Iowa State Fair this week. Trump was the only major candidate to turn down the offer.
![Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/640/320/AP23214828386987.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Reynolds this week invited all of the 2024 Republican candidates to join her in a “fireside chat” with her in Iowa. Trump was the only major candidate to turn down the offer. (AP Photo/Charlie Neighborgal, File)
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Reynolds went on to win re-election in 2022 by winning by 19 points. Her pledge to remain neutral in the race for the presidential nomination is in line with previous governors of Iowa. With a large contender for the 2024 presidential nomination looming in Iowa, the all-Republican Iowa legislative delegation has also remained neutral.
![](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/640/320/Nikki-Haley-Kim-Reynolds-Iowa-State-Fair-August-12-2023.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
2024 Republican Presidential Candidate, Former Ambassador and Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is interviewed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa on August 12, 2023 photographing) (Paul Steinhauser – FOX News)
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Trump maintains a commanding lead in most Republican primary polls, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.