Lincoln Dinner concludes
After more than two hours of speeches mainly centered on trans healthcare, the southern border and abortion, the Lincoln Dinner put on by Iowa’s Republicans, has concluded.
Thirteen speakers took to the podium to lay out their ideas about what is wrong with America and how they, as presidential hopefuls, had the answers to conservative gripes.
Few took direct jabs at each other and rather directed their criticisms at Democratic policies and boogeymen like the indoctrination of children and stripping of rights from parents.
The former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson mentioned the many lawsuits former president Donald Trump is facing and Will Hurd, a lesser-known candidate from Texas, said explicitly that Tump was running for president to stay out of prison. That comment was met with loud boos from the ballroom audience.
Trump, who spoke last and continues to dominate in the polls despite his numerous legal liabilities, pulled no punches when calling out his main opponent, Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida. He continuously mispronounced his name, called out his opposition to ethanol production and argued that the Florida governor was lagging behind in the polls.
“I wouldn’t take a chance on that one,” Trump said of DeSantis.
While, he made it a point to tell the Iowa audience about his policies on trans people in sports and tariffs he imposed on China, the former president made no mention of the litany of charges he is facing.
The only Republican candidate absent from the dinner was Chris Christie.
Read the rest of the Guardian’s coverage of the dinner here.
Updated
Most of the Republican speakers at tonight’s Lincoln Dinner did not take aim at any of their peers, but Donald Trump, who just left the podium to cheers, took several jabs at Ron DeSantis.
He continuously mispronounced his name, called out his opposition to ethanol production and argued that the Florida governor was lagging behind in the polls.
“I wouldn’t take a chance on that one,” Trump said of DeSantis.
Updated
