Midwest

He's not running again in 2028, but Trump's returning to this crucial presidential nominating state

Published

7 months ago

September 14, 2025

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He's not running again in 2028, but Trump's returning to this crucial presidential nominating state

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President Donald Trump returns to Iowa Thursday evening.

But his stop in the state that for half a century has held the lead-off contest in the race for the Republican presidential nomination is about 2026 rather than 2028.

Trump will headline a Fourth of July eve event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to kick off America250, a series of yearlong celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Longtime Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann told Fox News it’s no surprise that the president picked Iowa to kick off celebrations of America’s independence.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE’LL KICK OFF INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND WITH ‘VERY SPECIAL’ PATRIOTIC EVENT

Then-former President Donald Trump waves to supporters at the Iowa Pork Producers tent during a visit to the Iowa State Fair, Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines. (Charlie Neibergall/The Associated Press)

“We’ve always had a special relationship with the president,” Kaufmann told Fox News Digital, as he noted that Trump carried the one-time general election battleground turned red state in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.

Kaurfmann said Trump’s stop in Iowa “is very symbolic, but it’s also very telling of what is important to him and I really believe he’s starting here because not only does he love Iowa, but he believes in the heartland. I think this is a huge message that he’s sending to everyone that he hasn’t forgotten who brought him to the dance.”

TRUMP WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO SERIES LEADING UP TO AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY: ‘ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE’

Veteran Iowa-based Republican consultant Nicole Schlinger said “it’s no surprise” that the president has “chosen to kick off America 250 at the best state fairgrounds in the country.”

“From the day his helicopter first landed here in 2015, Trump has had a special connection with Iowa. He’s straight-talking, hardworking and unapologetically proud of our country – just like Iowans,” Schlinger added. “Starting America’s 250th in Iowa is a reminder that the road to our future runs through the heartland.”

Former President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives at the Iowa State Fair, on Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )

Trump is no stranger to the fairgrounds.

Presidential candidate Trump walked through the crowds at the famed state fair in 2015 and 2023, and he held large rallies at the fairgrounds just ahead of the 2016 Iowa caucuses and again in October 2021.

Trump’s trip will also spark speculation about 2028.

“Trump 2028” hats are available for $50 and T-shirts that read “Trump 2028 (Re-write the Rules),” sell for $36 on the Trump Organization’s website.

But the rules are quite clear: The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution restricts presidents to two terms in office.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THESE SIX REPUBLICANS AS 2028 TALK STARTS TO HEAT UP

And after months of flirting with running for a third term in the White House, Trump appears to be ruling out another campaign.

Despite touting strong support in the MAGA world for a 2028 run for re-election, the president in a May interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” said, “I’m not looking at that.”

“I’ll be an eight-year president,” Trump added. “I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.”

“I’ll be an eight-year president,” President Donald Trump said. “I’ll be a two-term president. I always thought that was very important.” (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

But Trump’s 2028 flirtations, which he said weren’t a joke, and his sweeping moves since the start of his second tour of duty in the White House are keeping the spotlight firmly on him, averting any lame-duck talk and putting a damper on any early moves by those in the Republican Party hoping to succeed the president.

The race for the next GOP presidential nomination won’t get underway until Trump’s ready to share the spotlight, and he recently said it’s “far too early” to begin holding those discussions.

But Trump also added, “I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican, to carry it forward.”

Vice President JD Vance is presumed to be the extremely early frontrunner in the race to be the next GOP standard-bearer.

Former President Trump addresses a large crowd of supporters at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Oct. 9, 2021. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )

But other Republican politicians, with a likely eye to 2028, already have made stops in Iowa.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2016 GOP nomination, and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, already have visited Iowa in 2025.

And Govs. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas stopped in the Hawkeye State in July.

Kaufmann, pointing to Vance, noted, “I’ve said on multiple occasions that the vice president certainly has a standing invitation.”

And Kaufmann, addressing the early 2028 trips to Iowa, highlighted that “it’s 24-7 here, 365 days a year. It’s exactly how we want it and I think our folks are ready for the challenge yet again.”

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast.”

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Related Topics:america 250 donald trump Iowa JD Vance patriotism presidential primaries republicans elections

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Michigan

Over 40,000 without power after storms push through West Michigan

Published

28 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Over 40,000 without power after storms push through West Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Over 40,000 Consumers Energy customers are currently without power after strong storms pushed through West Michigan on Tuesday.

The outages, according to a map provided by Consumers Energy, are peppered from as far east as the Lake Michigan shoreline and over to Gratiot County.

This comes as storms producing strong winds, along with severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, push through the area.

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News Channel 3 is tracking these storms and will provide updates.

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Minnesota

Jarren Duran directs obscene gesture toward fan at Minnesota and says fan told him to kill himself

Published

40 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Jarren Duran directs obscene gesture toward fan at Minnesota and says fan told him to kill himself

MINNEAPOLIS — Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran directed an obscene gesture toward a fan at Target Field as he returned to the dugout after a fifth-inning groundout in Boston’s 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Duran, who has spoken about his past struggles with mental health, said a fan made a personal comment that crossed the line.

“Somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said. “I’m used to it at this point, you know? I mean, (expletive) happens. I mean, I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn’t react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering.”

Duran discussed bouts with severe depression and a suicide attempt in a Netflix series that debuted last year.

“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I’ve just got to get used to it,” Duran said. “I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we’re trying to win a game. I shouldn’t even bring that up to anybody. … It just happens.”

Boston manager Alex Cora said he didn’t witness the incident and hadn’t reviewed video of it.

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Missouri

Missouri immigration enforcement triples; St. Louis families affected

Published

52 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Missouri immigration enforcement triples; St. Louis families affected

ST. LOUIS – Missouri is experiencing one of the sharpest increases in immigration enforcement in the country, with activity nearly tripling compared to the end of the Biden administration.

More than 3,200 people have been taken into custody across the state since January 2025, according to new data from the Deportation Data Project.

Arrests in Missouri are approximately 2.7 times higher than they were just a year ago, leading local advocates in St. Louis to report that the impact is significantly affecting families.

Hundreds of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees are held in facilities statewide on any given day.

Jessica Mayo, co-director and attorney for the M.I.C.A. Project, highlighted the widespread consequences of this intensified enforcement.

“Even though we don’t see ice on the streets, the way they were in Minneapolis or Chicago or LA. That same destruction of families is happening here and it is really impacting our neighbors, the people we go to school with, the people we work with,” Mayo said. “And we all need to stand up and let our government know that we don’t support that and to support the immigrants, uh, in our community to make it a more welcoming place.”

Local advocates in St. Louis are observing this impact directly. The ASHREI Foundation reports receiving nearly 6,000 hotline calls and has provided support for more than 650 families, many of whom are dealing with detained loved ones.

Mayo stated that local police departments are a significant source of these detentions. “More than 80% of the people that we see through the St. Louis rapid response hotline are being turned over to ice by local Police Department,” Mayo said. She added that this occurs even with departments that do not have 287(g) agreements.

She further explained various ways people are encountering ICE. “We see many municipalities cooperating with ice and calling them even when it’s just someone who’s been driving without a license,” Mayo said. She also noted that routine check-ins with immigration officials, which individuals have often attended for years to update their status, are now frequently leading to detention.

Federal officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security maintain that these enforcement efforts are focused on public safety, highlighting recent arrests of violent offenders and expanded operations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also points to initiatives like its VOICE office, which supports victims of crimes tied to immigration. However, advocates argue and data shows, that about 20% of those arrested in Missouri by ICE have no criminal charges or convictions. More than 60 local agencies are working with ICE statewide.

For individuals or families affected by detention, the St. Louis Rapid Response Hotline is available daily at (314) 370-7080. The hotline helps families locate loved ones and understand their legal options.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.

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