Feenstra’s Flop of a Day: Trump Snub, Problems with His Party’s Base, Flamed for Skipping Debate

DES MOINES – No one in Iowa had a worse day than Randy Feenstra yesterday. Feenstra’s campaign — which has already faced sharp criticism from prominent Iowa Republicans — had its worst day yet after he was snubbed by Donald Trump in Clive and on Truth Social, exposed for having major problems with his party’s grassroots, and flamed for skipping a GOP primary debate (with an empty podium to match).

Here’s what you missed from Feenstra’s flop of a day:

• Snubbed not once, not twice, but three times by Trump: Feenstra walked away with only an Air Force One participation trophy yesterday after spending the entire day with Trump. Despite stressing the importance of the Senate and Congressional races at his Clive rally, Trump refused to bring up the governor’s race or give Feenstra a speaking slot — which the rest of the Congressional delegation received — and “did not make any kind of endorsement for Feenstra in his gubernatorial primary race.” Trump also made a wave of key endorsements on Truth Social last night in the second Congressional District and other competitive governor’s races in neighboring Wisconsin and in Pennsylvania, but still refused to endorse Feenstra — even after being told to keep a close eye on the governor’s race by an Adam Steen supporter at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale.

• Exposed for having major problems with the grassroots: Fox News revealed that a MAGA grassroots group is circulating a petition begging Trump to endorse anyone but “absent congressman” Feenstra. Many of the Republicans who signed the petition are current and former elected officials, influential activists, and county party chairs, who said that Feenstra isn’t a “worthy candidate.” The petition has garnered over 420 signatures, with nearly 100 added in the last 24 hours.

• Flamed for skipping the GOP primary debate: Despite literally being in the Des Moines metro area yesterday to sell Trump’s disastrous economic agenda, no-show Feenstra skipped the Moms for Liberty primary debate and refused to take questions from friendly moderators — the latest multi-candidate event he’s bailed on in an alarming pattern of refusing to face his primary opponents. His opponents, event organizers, and those in the audience sharply criticized the move, referring to Feenstra’s empty debate podium as the “time-out podium” and attacking Feenstra’s absence to the biggest applause of the evening. Bob Vander Plaats said “The only one who lost tonight was @RandyFeenstra” and Eddie Andrews pointed out how Feenstra was in the Des Moines area earlier and was “throwing a middle finger at all of you.”

No-show Feenstra’s “milquetoast” campaign has come under fire from his opponents and the Republican grassroots for spending months bailing on events with the rest of the primary field, and it’s even caused some to question his ability to win a general election. Back in D.C., Feenstra has also taken heat for kicking the can down the road on E15, voting to jack up prices, and putting health care on the chopping block.

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