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Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social Monday ahead of the Iowa caucuses to attack his opponents for the Republican presidential nomination, offering some unexpected praise for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, comparatively.
In his comments Monday afternoon, Trump called DeSantis "MAGA-Lite" while leveling attacks against former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley as a RINO, or Republican in name only, and suggesting that votes for Roivant Sciences founder Vivek Ramaswamy would be "wasted."
The Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential election campaigned in Iowa Monday.
"Nikki Haley can never win in the General Election because she doesn't have MAGA, and never will!" Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. "Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite. Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party. The days of the RINOs and non-AMERICA FIRST candidates are OVER! Nikki is a Globalist RINO, backed by American's [sic] for Chinese Growth, the Charles Koch con job. It's not going to happen for her, or DeSanctimonious! Vivek Votes are wasted, should come to 'TRUMP.' MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!!"
Ron DeSantis tweeted: "Donald Trump is focused on his issues. I'm focused on your issues and your family's issues. It's not about me, it's about the future of our country."
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley shrugged off the attacks, posting on X, formerly Twitter, that she was having lunch at the Bread Board restaurant in Pella, Iowa, ahead of the caucus.
Trump's attacks on Haley come after the former president got some bad news last week. A January 10 poll from the Detroit News showed Haley would be more likely to defeat incumbent President Joe Biden than Trump in a head-to-head match in Michigan come November 5. In the poll, Haley would likely have 44 percent of the vote to Biden's 34 percent. Meanwhile, the poll showed Trump would beat Biden in Michigan by an 8-point margin. Michigan is one of six swing states, along with Nevada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Wisconsin.
Vivek Ramaswamy also ignored the attacks, appearing on Fox & Friends to appeal to voters to "vote for the one candidate who is speaking the truth to you." During his appearance on the program, Ramaswamy promised to pardon "peaceful" January 6 protestors on his first day in office.
Trump has issued warnings ahead of Monday's Iowa caucuses, claiming the freezing weather in the state could potentially lead to "dirty tricks." Iowa experienced sub-freezing temperatures Monday, leading to some concerns that the cold would deter the elderly, a key demographic, from showing up in person to the 1,500 sites in which the caucuses will be held.
The Iowa caucuses commence at 7 p.m. CT and should conclude by about 8 p.m. CT.
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About the writer
Sheri Kasprzak is a Newsweek editor based in Providence, Rhode Island. Her focus is reporting on finance and economy. Sheri ... Read more