Trump promises to take on ‘radical left’ to Iowa voters

Former President Donald Trump touted his conservative record as president and promised if reelected to wage war against the “radical left” and its “woke” politics while appealing to Republican voters in Iowa on Saturday night.

Hours after delivering a speech in Florida, Trump appeared via video to deliver a keynote speech at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, where a number of other 2024 White House hopefuls pitched their agendas to voters.

During his tame, campaign-focused remarks, the 45th President trumpeted the accomplishments of his administration, which he claimed “achieved more for our values than any administration in the history of our country.”

Trump said that if elected to office again, he would take on the culture war between the left and conservatives head-on, promising legislation banning instruction of critical race theory, “transgender insanity,” as well as “racial, social or political content” to children in public schools.

“Left wing gender-lunacy being pushed on our children is an act of child abuse,” Trump claimed.

“As president I will sign a new executive order instructing every federal agency to cease the promotion of sex and gender transition at any age,” the ex-president added.

He also took shots at President Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 election, calling him out on his border policies: “If you take first five presidents that are the absolute worst and you add them all together they haven’t done the harm that Joe Biden and his administration.”

Trump, who was the first GOP candidate to launch his campaign, is currently leading a large field of candidates seeking the Republican nomination by a wide margin, according to recent polls.

A poll of likely GOP primary voters published by the Wall Street Journal on Friday found that Trump has maintained a sizeable lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who has not yet officially announced his candidacy but is viewed by many as the former president’s most formidable foe.

In the scenario of a showdown between Trump and DeSantis, 51% said they would back Trump while 38% backed DeSantis — a near-complete reversal of the poll’s December findings, which showed DeSantis leading with 52% and Trump with 38%.

When voters were asked to choose amid a 12-person primary field, 48% of Republican voters still backed Trump — double DeSantis’ 24% support. 

No other potential contender cracked double figures, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley getting 5% support and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) at 3%.

Longshot candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a 37-year-old entrepreneur who has never held public office, received 2% support. 

A hoard of other potential candidates — including former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — all polled at 1% or less.

All but Haley and DeSantis delivered speeches to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, the state’s foremost evangelical activist group, along with former Rep. Will Hurd of Texas and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

President Biden, 80, is widely expected to announce his re-election campaign next week, despite abysmal job approval ratings.