Iowa's GOP leaders stand by Trump as he repeats false claims

DES MOINES, Iowa – Republican Sen. Charles Grassley and Gov. Kim Reynolds embraced Donald Trump’s instrumentality to Iowa connected Saturday, lasting by the erstwhile president arsenic helium repeated his mendacious claims of elector fraud and a stolen predetermination to a assemblage of thousands.

The state’s elder senator, who precocious announced plans to tally for an eighth six-year term, praised Trump arsenic helium introduced him by noting determination was “a large assemblage honoring a large president of the United States.”

Neither Grassley nor Reynolds made immoderate notation to Trump’s post-presidency, during which helium has continued to prevarication astir the results and impulse Republicans to behaviour “audits” of the ballot counts. Reynolds, besides seeking reelection adjacent year, gushed with praise for Trump successful her little remarks.

Trump spent astir 30 minutes of the rally, his archetypal successful Iowa since his 2020 campaign, arguing falsely that helium had won Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

“Trump won! Trump won! Trump won!,” came the chant from the assemblage dispersed crossed the sprawling Iowa authorities fairgrounds.

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“He did. He did. Thank you,” Trump said.

Representatives for Grassley and Reynolds did not respond this past week to requests for remark connected whether they agreed with Trump's connection connected Wednesday that the “real insurrection” was the election, not the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters determined to halt the certification of Joe Biden's election.

Grassley, who voted to certify the vote, has been quiescent astir Trump's continuing claims of a stolen election. Asked successful July, helium said. “On Dec. 12, aft the electoral votes were cast, Biden is the president of the United States."

On Saturday night, Trump endorsed Grassley and pledged to endorse Reynolds separately successful the months ahead.

In January, erstwhile asked if she and different Republican leaders should person much rapidly rejected mendacious claims of predetermination fraud, the politician said radical request to halt pointing fingers and determination forward.

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