DeSantis Surpasses Campaign Milestone in Iowa as Trump Sets Sights on Biden

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa — As a presidential campaign milestone was achieved by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday afternoon with his visit to all 99 counties in Iowa, former President Donald Trump chose to divert his attention from his GOP opponent and instead targeted President Biden during their dueling rallies in the state.

During an event in Cedar Rapids, Trump directed his attacks towards Mr. Biden, accusing him of "destroying American democracy." Trump seems to be attempting to portray the primary election as concluded even before any votes have been cast, while focusing on his 2020 rival.

To rally-goers, the Trump campaign distributed new signs that read "Biden attacks Democracy."

"Joe Biden is not the defender of American democracy. Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy," Trump declared to a packed gymnasium at Kirkwood Community College, presenting the 91 criminal charges he faces across four criminal indictments as politically motivated.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump made an unverified claim that Biden has "the Justice Department and others suing me wherever and whenever possible - WEAPONIZATION, it's called, and maybe that can make a difference."

Trump Vows to Appoint Special Prosecutor to Target Biden in 2024

In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump declared his intention to appoint a special prosecutor to "go after" President Joe Biden if he were to win the presidency in 2024. This comes as Trump faced two legal setbacks on Friday, with a federal judge rejecting his attempt to dismiss the special counsel's case against him for election interference in 2020, and a federal appeals court ruling that he is not entitled to broad immunity from civil lawsuits related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

The Biden re-election campaign has responded to Trump's attacks, denying claims that Biden is personally targeting Trump. Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa stated, "Donald Trump's America in 2025 is one where the government is his personal weapon to lock up his political enemies. After spending a week defending his plan to rip health care away from millions of Americans, this is his latest desperate attempt at distraction — the American people see right through it and it won't work."

Trump Shifts Focus to Biden Instead of Republican Primary

In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump chose to focus his attacks on President Joe Biden instead of the ongoing Republican presidential primary. Trump mentioned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis only a few times, claiming that DeSantis' campaign was faltering and reiterating his role in helping DeSantis win the 2020 gubernatorial election.

In a city just under 100 miles away from Newton, Jasper County, DeSantis had a different experience. He embarked on a tour of all 99 counties in Iowa, a feat known as a "full Grassley." As the Iowa caucus draws near, DeSantis took the opportunity to launch new attacks on Trump, who has maintained a strong lead in both state and national polls. DeSantis emphasized that his completion of the 99-county tour demonstrated his commitment to serving the people rather than ruling over them, a quality he believes elected officials should possess. DeSantis and his campaign have frequently criticized Trump's sense of entitlement to the GOP nomination, pointing out his lighter campaign schedule. Speaking at the Thunderdome, a wedding venue in Jasper County, DeSantis candidly expressed his views on Trump's campaign, particularly highlighting the president's unfulfilled promises such as building a border wall and "draining the swamp" in Washington, D.C. DeSantis also criticized Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, deeming it as the wrong approach.

Despite DeSantis' efforts to challenge Trump's dominance, the president's popularity remains strong as the Iowa caucus draws nearer.

Knowing what we know now, would you still do the same things that you would do? His answer to that question is yes. And to me that is disqualifying because this can never happen to our country ever again. DeSantis also criticized how, in his closing days as president, Trump gave a presidential commendation to Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. DeSantis also accused Trump of not supporting those who were criminally charged and convicted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. "Did he help the people that got caught up in the Capitol stuff, that he told to go there? Did he give any support for them? No, but he did give a commendation to Dr. Fauci on his last day in office," DeSantis said. DeSantis was introduced by evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, both of whom have endorsed him. In his introduction, Vander Plaats said that the country needs a "God-fearing man," and argued for Trump supporters to back DeSantis instead. "Voting for Ron DeSantis is not against Donald Trump, it is about the future of our country," he said. Recreated News

Ron Murray, an Iowa voter from Jasper County, the 99th which DeSantis visited, seemed to agree with Vander Plaats pitch. Murray said he was considering his options going into the event, but left convinced he would vote for DeSantis.

"I believe that [DeSantis] is a God-fearing man, and I do not believe that Trump is," he said.