DES MOINES, Iowa — President Donald Trump arrived in the Hawkeye State on Tuesday, kicking off a high-stakes “affordability tour” intended to set the tone for the 2026 midterm elections. Stepping off Air Force One into a chilly Iowa afternoon, the President’s visit to the Clive suburb represents a strategic pivot toward kitchen-table issues like energy costs and tax relief, even as his administration grapples with the fallout from a fatal shooting involving federal agents in neighboring Minnesota.
You can watch Trump in Iowa LIVE about 4PM HERE (Courtesy DWS)
Pre-Departure Deflection
Before departing the White House, Trump addressed a flurry of questions regarding the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse shot by federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend. The incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy, particularly after Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled Pretti an “assassin” on social media—a post later shared by Vice President JD Vance.
In a rare moment of public disagreement with his inner circle, Trump disputed the “assassin” label. “No,” Trump told reporters when asked if he agreed with Miller’s characterization. Calling the shooting a “very sad situation,” the President emphasized that a “big investigation” is currently underway. “I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation,” he added, while also confirming that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would not be resigning despite calls from critics.
As he boarded the plane, Trump sought to steer the conversation back to his primary mission: the economy. “The economy is good, it’s all good,” he insisted. “Prices are coming way down.”
The Clive Speech: Focus on Energy and Ethanol
The centerpiece of the visit is a scheduled address at the Horizon Events Center in Clive. According to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the speech will focus heavily on energy independence and “affordability”—a keyword the administration is using to champion the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the sweeping tax and spending package passed last summer.
Iowans are expected to hear a tailored message regarding the state’s vital agricultural sector. Trump is anticipated to tout his administration’s support for the biofuels industry, specifically addressing the ongoing debate over year-round E15 ethanol sales. With the 2026 midterms looming, the President is also expected to highlight the “Working Families Tax Cuts,” which the White House claims is saving the average Iowa family over $3,000 annually.
However, the President faces a complex audience. While his approval remains high among the GOP base, some Iowa farmers remain wary of the long-term effects of trade tensions and tariffs that have previously impacted soybean and corn exports. Trump is expected to counter these concerns by highlighting the $12 billion in industry bridge payments and the recent resumption of crop purchases by international partners.
Why Iowa? The Midterm Strategy
Iowa serves as the ideal laboratory for Trump’s 2026 strategy. Although the state has trended reliably Republican—Trump defeated Kamala Harris here by 13 percentage points in 2024—it remains home to some of the most competitive House districts in the nation.
The President’s visit is designed to provide a “Trump bump” to incumbents like Rep. Zach Nunn and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, both of whom face potentially tight reelection bids. Furthermore, Iowa’s political landscape is in a state of flux; the state is seeing its first open races for both Governor and U.S. Senator since 1968, following the decisions by Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst not to seek reelection.
“I invited President Trump back to Iowa to highlight the real progress we’ve made,” Rep. Nunn said in a statement. “Now we’ve got to keep that momentum going and pass my affordable housing bill and deliver for Iowa’s energy producers.”
By choosing Iowa as his first major domestic stop of the year, Trump is signaling that he intends to campaign as if he were on the ticket himself. The “affordability tour” will continue through other swing states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, as the administration attempts to keep the focus on economic gains and away from the civil unrest and immigration-related controversies currently dominating the headlines in the Midwest.
Sources & Links
- The White House: Iowa Families Are Winning Again Under President Trump’s Leadership
- Associated Press: Trump visits Iowa trying to focus on affordability during fallout over nurse’s Minneapolis shooting
- CBS News: Trump visiting Iowa to kick off midterm election campaigning
- We Are Iowa (Local 5): Trump set to discuss economy in Iowa: What economic issues are on Iowans’ minds?
- WQAD News 8: Previewing Trump’s visit to Iowa ahead of 2026 Midterms
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