{"id":2613497,"date":"2026-06-11T20:40:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T00:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-signals-regret-after-backing-feenstra-for-iowa-governor\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T20:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T00:40:02","slug":"trump-signals-regret-after-backing-feenstra-for-iowa-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-signals-regret-after-backing-feenstra-for-iowa-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump signals regret after backing Feenstra for Iowa governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-signals-regret-after-backing-feenstra-for-iowa-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2613497&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> said on Thursday he would have backed the Republican primary opponent of Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) if he had been given \u201cproper information\u201d on both candidates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feenstra narrowly lost the GOP primary for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"468\">Iowa<\/a> governor to political newcomer Zach Lahn earlier this month despite outspending Lahn by nearly $1 million and having Trump\u2019s support.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4605643\/trump-dc-takeover-janeese-lewis-george-mayor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump vows to \u2018take back\u2019 DC if socialist mayoral candidate wins<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4603440\/spencer-pratt-los-angeles-mayor-spotlight\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spencer Pratt\u2019s Los Angeles mayoral run ends in defeat, but the spotlight stays on<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4603320\/karen-bass-brother-sues-los-angeles-house-burned-palisades\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Karen Bass\u2019s brother sues Los Angeles after house burned down in Palisades fire<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked if he regretted endorsing Feenstra four days before the June 2 primary election, Trump suggested he did not know enough about Lahn at the time to make an informed decision and noted the first-time candidate was much more supportive of his agenda than the House Republican.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe man running against [Feenstra] was all Trump,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bulwarkonline\/status\/2065171517697098086?s=46\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bulwarkonline\/status\/2065171517697098086?s=46\">said<\/a> in the Oval Office. \u201cHad I been given the proper information, which I don\u2019t think I was, I probably would have endorsed the other person or not endorsed at all, but I would have endorsed the other person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe other person was much more Trump, as you know, than Randy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump was extremely upset that his consultants pressured him to give Feenstra a last-minute endorsement, with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> source <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/playbook\/2026\/06\/11\/knives-are-out-inside-the-white-house-00958341\">telling<\/a> <em>Politico\u2019s <\/em>Playbook that the president is \u201creally angry about this Iowa endorsement.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feenstra was one of the most notable Trump-endorsed candidates to fail in the Republican primaries this year. Trump has been largely successful in ousting incumbents, such as Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2103\">Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA) and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17668\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY), with his own picks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A longtime GOP operative, Lahn has worked for Republican campaigns in Montana and Colorado before running for public office. While he was once unknown, Lahn began picking up endorsements from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/turning-point-usa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2923\">Turning Point<\/a> Action and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maha\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11799\">Make America Healthy Again<\/a> PAC as he proceeded in the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4592573\/randy-feenstra-loss-delivers-blow-trump-endorsed-candidate-success-rate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4592573\/randy-feenstra-loss-delivers-blow-trump-endorsed-candidate-success-rate\/\">RANDY FEENSTRA LOSS DELIVERS BLOW TO TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATE SUCCESS RATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The victorious primary candidate used his connection to Health and Human Services Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/robert-f-kennedy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2316\">Robert F. Kennedy<\/a> Jr.\u2019s MAHA movement to his advantage, priding himself on his opposition to corporate agriculture and pesticides.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lahn will now face Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, the sole Iowa Democrat to hold statewide office, for the governor\u2019s mansion in November. Both entered the race after Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kim-reynolds\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11120\">Kim Reynolds<\/a> (R-IA) decided not to seek reelection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would have backed the Republican primary opponent of Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) if he had been given \u201cproper information\u201d on both candidates. Feenstra narrowly lost the GOP primary for Iowa governor to political newcomer Zach Lahn earlier this month despite outspending Lahn by nearly $1 million and having<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2613498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26148027508002-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2613497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26148027508002-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2613497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2613497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2613498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2613497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2613497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2613497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}