Trump claims Ron DeSantis spread ‘Missing Melania’ flyers when they collided at Iowa college football game
Donald Trump charged rival Ron DeSantis as the source of the flyers claiming Melania Trump is ‘missing’ as their presidential tug-of-war played out at an Iowa college football game.
The former president posted a substack note from ally Laura Loomer on his Truth Social account where Loomer charges the Florida governor with trolling the Trumps.
At the Iowa-Iowa State college football game, a huge rivalry in the Hawkeye State, flyers with a photo of the former first lady asking ‘Where’s Melania?’ and showing the number of the Mar-a-Lago security office, were distributed. Also, a plane flew overhead dragging a banner reading ‘Where’s Melania?’
The flyer was about a missing Melania Trump was distributed at a recent Trump appearance in Iowa
There was instant speculation that the DeSantis team was behind it, with Trump allies taking to social media to blame the Florida governor.
Some speculated the DeSantis team was responding to the Trump campaign flying an aerial banner over the Iowa State Fair earlier this summer that said ‘Be Likeable, Ron!’
The dig from Trump was aimed at chatter that DeSantis is stiff on the campaign trail and has trouble connecting with voters.
Donald Trump blamed Ron DeSantis’ campaign for the flyer
Donald Trump sat in a private box for the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeye
And the former president took to defending his wife, who hasn’t been seen in public with him in almost a year.
Trump reposted Loomer’s posting that accused the DeSantis campaign of encouraging Iowans ‘to harass the former First Lady of the United States’ calling it ‘classless and disgusting.’
The DeSantis campaign did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
The flyer read: ‘Have you seen this woman? Where is our First Lady? Why is Donald Trump hiding her? We miss her. Please call 561-832-2600 if found.’
Melania Trump has rarely been seen in public over the past year.
She has said she supports her husband’s bid for a second term in the White House, but she hasn’t appeared at one of his campaign events in ten months – not since he announced his 2024 bid at Mar-a-Lago on November 15th, 2022.
She has not been by Trump’s side at any of his court appearances as he fights multiple legal battles nor with him as he defends himself in speeches to his MAGA supporters.
She has been spotted in New York a few times over the summer, running errands and spending time with son Barron.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis takes a photo with a supporter while attending the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes
Donald Trump and Melania Trump were seen at Mar-a-Lago in May, having brunch for Mother’s Day, per photos posted on social media
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with wife Casey and their son Mason at the Iowa state fair
The Trump campaign flew a ‘Be Likeable Ron!’ banner around the Iowa State Fair
She and Trump spent Mother’s Day together at Mar-a-Lago, their Palm Beach residence. Photos and videos of them having brunch in the club’s dining room appeared on social media.
In contrast, Casey DeSantis is often seen at Ron’s side as Donald Trump and the Florida governor continue to battle it out for the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump leads by double digits in the polls.
Both men were at the college football game. Trump sat in a box seat while DeSantis sat in the stands with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
It was the first time they were at the same event since the Iowa State Fair in mid-August.