DES MOINES — President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE almost ignored the impeachment trial playing out in Washington while rallying supporters here on Thursday night, focusing instead on his own reelection effort in nine months and the Democratic caucuses taking place on Monday.
Trump’s rally, held at a packed 7,000-capacity arena at Drake University, was a clear piece of counterprogramming, aimed at ensuring that Democrats “just down the street” cannot drown out the president’s voice in Iowa as the climax of their highly competitive contest looms.
Such an effort could be important.
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Even though Trump carried the state against Democrat Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE by almost 10 points in 2016, its voters twice backed President Obama over Republican nominees, in 2008 and 2012. Trump’s approval rating here is also 9 points underwater, according to polling from Morning Consult.
While there are GOP caucuses in the state on Monday, they are largely meaningless because Trump has no serious opposition.
Trump used his speech Thursday night to assail the Democrats as “socialists” and leapt right into attacks on a number of leading candidates at the beginning of his remarks.
He lambasted former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE, questioning his memory; he hit out at Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.), once again calling him “Crazy Bernie”; and he mocked former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) over his last name.
Trump also blasted former New York City Mayor Michael BloombergMichael BloombergEngel scrambles to fend off primary challenge from left It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Liberals embrace super PACs they once shunned MORE as “Mini Mike” and attacked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezAttorney says 75-year-old man shoved by Buffalo police suffered brain injury How language is bringing down Donald Trump Highest-circulation Kentucky newspaper endorses Charles Booker in Senate race MORE (D-N.Y.), who is too young to run for president, while Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) for once escaped his wrath.
The president returned again to Biden toward the end of the speech: “That poor guy is so lost,” he said with faux concern. “It was over for him a long time ago, now it’s really over.
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Trump’s willingness to buck convention was apparent with the attendance of some high-profile administration officials at the overtly political event.
Trade adviser Peter Navarro was visible in the crowd for much of Trump’s speech and the president noted from the stage that U.S. Trade Representative Robert LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerGOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be ‘huge mistake’ Pelosi casts doubt on USMCA deal in 2019 Pelosi sounds hopeful on new NAFTA deal despite tensions with White House MORE was also present.
The event also served as something of a “MAGA” reunion. Former White House press secretary Sarah HuckabeeSarah Elizabeth SandersMcEnany stamps her brand on White House press operation Sanders mocks NY Times urging DNC to investigate Biden allegations: ‘I thought it was an Onion headline’ Donald Trump: The Boomer TV president MORE Sanders made a cameo appearance, 2020 campaign manager Brad ParscaleBradley (Brad) James ParscaleMORE was one of the warmup speakers and Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk posed for photos with admiring attendees.
Impeachment barely intruded on the Team Trump world. The president made some allusions to events in Washington, but his attacks on a “witch hunt hoax” were brief and somewhat perfunctory.
Trump also insisted that “this is a happy period for us” — an incongruous claim in the wake of him becoming the third president in American history to be impeached. But his bullishness may reflect growing GOP confidence that the Senate trial is almost at an end.
In the past 48 hours, the chances of witnesses being called has diminished, especially with Sen. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderState, city education officials press Congress for more COVID-19 funds Hillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Republicans prepare to punt on next COVID-19 relief bill MORE’s (R-Tenn.) announcement late Thursday that he will vote against such a move. No one expects the GOP-led Senate to vote to convict Trump.
Seeking to bolster his fortunes in Iowa specifically, Trump spent a good deal of his speech claiming he had improved the lives of the farmers in this predominantly rural state. He boasted about increasing farm incomes and also sought to attack Democrats in typically idiosyncratic terms: “Your tractors will be old” under Democratic policies, he warned at one point.
The president also looked back, as he loves to do, on his 2016 election victory. He again made reference to the margin of his Electoral College victory and hankered after the opportunity to run against Clinton again.
“Maybe we take another crack” at Clinton, he said at one point. Elsewhere he gloated, “How is she taking her defeat? OK?,” as the crowd laughed.
There were other flashbacks to 2016, including extremely hard-line rhetoric on immigration, with Trump referring to some immigrants in the country illegally as “stone-cold rapists and murders” and renewing his pledge to build the southern border wall.
That effort has so far resulted only in the refurbishment of some existing barriers, not the construction of any new stretches of wall.
Trump is already framing this year’s election in stark cultural terms.
On Thursday, he cast the Democrats as promising “chaos” while Republicans, in his telling, “stand for law, order and justice.”
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At another point he insisted that “this election is a choice between American freedom and democratic socialism.”
But no one was really mistaken about the purpose of Trump’s Hawkeye State swing: to wrest the spotlight away from what he called “the radical socialist Democrats” campaigning nearby.
Toward the end of Trump’s extended remarks, a small but noticeable trickle of supporters began leaving the arena.
But for Trump, he was at least showing he was not complacent about his Iowa fortunes.
“I worked my ass off up here!” he said.
The crowd that remained cheered loudly.
The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage, primarily focused on Donald Trump’s presidency.