Photo: Alamy
President Trump was greeted by massive crowds of supporters across the Hawkeye State on Friday, hosting two energetic caucus rallies in Sioux Center and Mason City, Iowa.
Trump was greeted by first responders, veterans, and loyal supporters in both Iowan cities, some of whom had lined up for hours awaiting his arrival to the state with the first primary contest in the nation.
The president touched on issues surrounding illegal immigration, preventing World War III, lowering inflation, and his opponents from both sides of the political spectrum.
Trump first gave remarks at a Team Trump Iowa Commit to Caucus in Sioux Center, where he was greeted by crowds of supporters. He first encouraged supporters to get out and caucus, telling them that “bad things happen” when people sit back on Election Day.
“It’s so important that we get out and vote and really show it,” Trump stated. “Show the strength because the only way we can get hurt is if you sit home and want to watch the great results on television. Then you say, ‘Is it too late? We’ve got to get out there fast.’”
He also slammed the Biden administration over the crisis on the southern border while praising the “catch and release” policies he enacted just years ago during his presidency to combat illegal immigration.
“We used to catch them and release them into Mexico,” Trump stated. “It was called ‘catch and release’ into Mexico, and [the Biden administration] gave that up.”
“Now [Mexico] want billions of dollars to help us with this problem, and with me, they never asked for billions of dollars. I said, ‘You’re going to pay billions of dollars if you don’t help us with this problem,’” he added.
Trump then departed the crowds of Sioux Center, which encompassed an audience of the state’s caucusgoers and first responders, according to footage posted to X by Trump Senior Advisor Dan Scavino.
Trump later traveled to a second Team Trump Iowa Commit to Caucus campaign event in Mason City, where large crowds greeted him upon his arrival, according to footage posted to X by OANN’s Daniel Baldwin.
Trump began his speech in Mason City by taking aim at his nearest primary opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling the governor “disloyal” for running against him after the president helped him win the governorship in 2018.
Trump asserted that DeSantis “begged” for his endorsement in 2018 and was faltering in the polls until he stepped in to help. Following Trump’s endorsement, DeSantis “went up like a rocket ship” in the polls, winning the primaries and then the general election against a once rising star, Democrat Andrew Gillum.
However, DeSantis seemingly turned on Trump four years later, launching a bid for the White House. However, the 45th president noted that this move “was the end” of DeSantis.
“I’m at 89, and he’s at nine,” said Trump, citing his Republican challenger’s faltering poll numbers. “And now I guess he’s fighting for second place, isn’t he?”
Trump also touted his foreign policy on countries such as Iran, saying that “Iran was broke” when he was president.
“When I was president, Iran was broke. They had no money,” said Trump. “I told China, ‘If you deal with them, you can’t deal with us.’ I told that to India, I told that to France, I told that to every nation.”
Trump told audience members that now, Iran is just “inches away from having a nuclear bomb” and will likely have a nuclear weapon within the next 61 days as a result of the Biden administration removing sanctions from the country.
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