GOP Candidates in Iowa Focus on Challenging Trump, Ignoring Indictment

Republican candidates vying for the 2024 nomination largely ignored former President Donald Trump's recent federal indictment during their speeches in Iowa, where Trump remains popular among Republican voters. Only a few candidates mentioned Trump, with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson criticizing the Department of Justice's alleged political bias in investigating Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Republicans to stop making excuses, while former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Perry Johnson made passing references to Trump. A poll suggests Trump's position in Iowa may be slightly weaker than nationally, but attacking him directly risks alienating his supporters.