Trump Fumes as Vander Plaats Chooses DeSantis Over Him

Former President Donald Trump expressed anger after influential Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats endorsed his rival, Ron DeSantis, for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Vander Plaats, leader of the evangelical group Family Leader, cited DeSantis' ability to win and his experience as reasons for his endorsement. Trump accused DeSantis of paying Vander Plaats $100,000 for the endorsement, which both DeSantis and Vander Plaats denied. Vander Plaats has a history of supporting winners in the Iowa caucuses, but none of them went on to win the Republican nomination. Trump currently leads in the 2024 Republican primary tracking poll, with DeSantis in second place.