In an unexpected turn of events, the highly anticipated Saturday night rally of former President Donald Trump in Iowa was abruptly called off due to an unusual reason—bad weather. The announcement came from Truth Social, the social media platform of the 2024 presidential candidate.
Trump, who was all set to depart for Iowa, found himself stranded at the Palm Beach airport in Florida as a tornado warning loomed over several counties in the state. Forced to prioritize safety, the former president had no choice but to cancel his appearance in Des Moines. This cancellation coincided with Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, gathering a massive crowd in Sioux Center, Iowa, as he prepared to unveil his campaign in the coming days.
“Due to tornado warnings in Des Moines, we regret to inform you that today’s rally at the Lauridsen Amphitheater has been called off,” announced Trump’s team. However, they assured supporters that a new date would be set soon. They wished everyone a safe journey.
Governor DeSantis, taking the stage at the Feenstra Family Picnic in Sioux Center, delivered a powerful keynote message to the more than 500 Republican attendees. Urging them to reject the prevailing culture of losing within the party, DeSantis emphasized that excuses were no longer acceptable. According to him, if the 2024 election became a referendum on President Joe Biden’s failures and Republicans presented a positive alternative for the nation’s future, victory would be guaranteed across the board.
The cancellation of the anticipated showdown between Trump and DeSantis in the crucial GOP primary state was met with disappointment. Many anticipate a long and dramatic Republican primary contest between the former president, who consistently leads in the polls by a significant margin, and DeSantis, who is considered the strongest challenger from within the party.
On the same night, DeSantis made his way to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he addressed a sold-out fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party. This event marked only the second regional gathering of its kind to sell out in the past five years, as reported by NBC News, further highlighting DeSantis’ popularity.
Meanwhile, Trump solidified his position as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination through a CNN town hall event held in New Hampshire earlier in the week. The canceled Iowa rally would have been his first major campaign-style event since then. Just a day before the town hall, Trump faced a New York grand jury indictment on charges of sexual abuse and defamation brought by novelist E. Jean Carrol. Undeterred, the former president engaged in a spirited exchange with reporter Kaitlan Collins during the town hall, receiving cheers and applause from the Republican audience.
It is worth noting that Trump has faced allegations in the past regarding hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg recently brought forth 34 criminal charges against Trump related to these payments.