On the front page of Wednesday’s Iowa Gazette, the editorial board addressed an open letter to President Donald Trump asking him not to hold his “Make America Great” rally scheduled in Cedar Rapids for that very day.
During his campaign, Trump visited the state over 30 times and spent more money than any other candidate on visits to Iowa. Trump’s last visit to Iowa took place on Nov. 6, just two days before the election. He won the state with 51.8 percent of the vote over Hillary Clinton.
The Gazette started the editorial by pointing out that the campaign was over and asked Trump to focus on the issues and policies that affect Iowans, instead of holding another rally. “Iowans have questions and concerns about your plans. They can’t be heard over the cheers of a rally,” the letter read.
The rally was originally slated for May, but was postponed because of scheduling conflicts. As Trump goes into his six month in office, the Gazette wants the president to move forward: The editorial mentioned a number of the pressing issues facing Iowans today including rewrites of current trade agreements, the energy industry and coal, flood protection, health insurance, funding for public schools, and more.
We can assume that this rally, airing at 8pm ET via Fox News, will be similar to the one Trump held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, during the White House correspondents’ dinner on April 29. He used the rally to embolden supporters by repeating campaign promises made in a state he surprisingly won.
The letter ends by asking the president to sit down with Iowans to listen to their stories and consider the impact his pending policies have on everyday citizens.
“We concede it’s not as much fun as hearing the cheers and chants of folks convinced you’re making America great again,” the letter adds. “But it’s what presidents do.”
H/T the Hill
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