A top Iowa Republican just published an opinion piece targeting former President Donald Trump.
The Iowa Republican is Iowa State Rep. Matt Windschitl (R). Windschitle is the current majority leader of Iowa's House of Representatives.
Windschitl's piece was published by The Gazette, on Friday, Aug. 11.
It is titled, Trump should stop insulting Iowans.
In the piece, Windschitl takes aim at Trump, in particular, for Trump's decision to decline Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds's (R) invitation to participate in the event that was held at the Iowa Fair this past weekend.
Republican 2024 presidential candidates were invited to the event to participate in a series of conversations. But, Trump, even though he went to Iowa, chose not to participate.
Why Trump declined is not immediately clear. But, Trump has made it clear that he is not happy with Reynold's support of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Trump, at one point, posted a social media message, saying:
I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!
Reynolds, for her part, does not seem to upset about Trump's decision to skip her event. "I mean that's his decision. I invited him; We would love to do it. So, the candidates are going to make their own decisions, and it is what it is," Reynolds said.
Windschitl, on the other hand, appears to have taken serious offense to Trump declining Reynolds's invitation. Hence, his opinion piece.
In his piece, Windschitl argues that Trump, by declining Reynolds's invitation, has revealed "his open contempt for Hawkeye State voters." Windschitl, though, takes things even further by arguing that Trump's "mistreatment of Gov. Reynolds signals he has lost touch with the values and traditions that make Iowa unique."
Windschitl - a DeSantis supporter - then goes on to slam Trump for his "mistreatment" of Reynolds.
Windschitl writes:
Let's put this bluntly: With such open hostility for someone so well regarded in our state, Trump revealed a petty vindictiveness unbecoming of a former president. It still is deeply disappointing to those of us who used to support him. He's attacking someone who has capably led this state, and in doing so, he's spitting in the faces of Iowa Republicans who have stood with him through thick and thin.
Later in the piece, Windschitl asks, "If he's too chicken to talk to our Governor, how can he possibly win the presidency?"
Trump, at the time of this writing, has not responded to Windschitl.
