US President Donald Trump will travel to Iowa on Tuesday (Jan 27) as part of the White House’s mid-year affordability push, even as his administration faces increasing scrutiny over the second fatal shooting of federal immigration officials in Minneapolis, Minn., this month.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will visit a local business before giving a speech focused on affordability at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, a suburb of Des Moines. The trip will also focus on energy policy, chief of staff Susie Wiles said, and fits with Trump’s strategy to travel outside of Washington at least once a week before the November midterms.
Trump’s accessibility tour has already taken him to Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, where the White House is trying to use his political strength in the competitive states.
While some administration officials were quick to criticize Pretti, the White House said Monday that Trump was waiting for the conclusion of the investigation into the shooting before commenting.
Tax statement
Republicans hope the Iowa trip will refocus attention on Trump’s package of big spending and tax cuts, which is expected to be the centerpiece of the party’s 2026 election. Trump last visited Iowa before the July 4 holiday to kick off celebrations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, a trip that quickly turned into a victory lap after Congress passed the tax bill.
“I invited President Trump back to Iowa to highlight the real progress we’ve made,” said Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, referring to tax relief, border security and economic growth. Nunn said other priorities include affordable housing, energy generation and reducing costs for families.
The Iowa Political Landscape
Although Iowa has trended reliably Republican in recent national elections — Trump won the state by 13 percentage points in 2024 against Democrat Kamala Harris — two of its four House districts remain among the most competitive in the country. Trump has already endorsed Reps. Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
This year’s election will also be the first since 1968 with open elections for both governor and U.S. senator after Governor Kim Reynolds and Senator Joni Ernst decided not to seek re-election. Republican representatives Randy Feenstra and Ashley Hinson are running for governor and U.S. senator.
