THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS. CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO CLOSE-UP. I’M KCCI, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER FOR THE IOWA STATE FAIR IS A LONG TIME POLITICAL TRADITION FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AHEAD OF THE IOWA CAUCUSES. BUT THIS YEAR, THE CAMPAIGNING COMES WITH A NEW TWIST. GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS IS HOLDING WHAT SHE CALLS FIRESIDE CHATS WITH THE GOP CANDIDATES TO 12 CANDIDATES AGREED TO BE INTERVIEWED BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE FAIRGROUNDS AND KCCI WAS THERE AS LARRY ELDER DOUG BURGUM, MIKE PENCE AND FRANCIS SUAREZ TOOK THE STAGE. THEY WERE THE FIRST FOUR CANDIDATES THE GOVERNOR QUESTIONED. YOU KNOW, AS PRESIDENT, YOU SAID YOU WOULD SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND IT’S CALLED THE BLIND SIDE INITIATIVE. KIND OF PREVENTS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS, CHILDREN RELATION. SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND AND WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT AND HOW YOU WOULD DO THAT. WELL, THAT’S ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I INTEND TO DO WHEN I BECOME PRESIDENT. BUT IT’S TO SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO STOP ALL THIS GRAFT, ALL THIS HUNTER BIDEN STUFF, ERIC KUSHNER STUFF. THIS IS NONSENSE. AND I’M GOING TO BE SITTING DOWN WITH MY LAWYERS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO IT CONSISTENT WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT. BUT THERE’S GOT TO BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. HARRY TRUMAN SAID IF YOU GO INTO POLITICS POOR AND YOU COME OUT RICH, YOU’RE STEALING. ALSO, I AM PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO FIX SPENDING TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE GDP, WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR WAR AND FOR NATURAL DISASTER. AND THAT’S BECAUSE, AS YOU WELL KNOW, I’VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW EVERY NOW AND THEN THERE’S A STAND OFF ABOUT THE RAISING THE DEBT CEILING. AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW, GOVERNOR, THEY’RE GOING TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCE IS ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DEFAULTED ON OUR DEBT. SIMILARLY, NOBODY WANTS TO SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT ANYMORE WHEN WE HAVE A BUDGET STANDOFF BECAUSE THE PARTY THAT’S PERCEIVED TO BE AT FAULT WILL LOSE COMING ELECTION. SO NOTHING GETS DONE. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTRAIN SPENDING IS TO FORCE THE POLITICIANS TO REFORM, AND THAT’S BY LAW. THE SO-CALLED ENTITLEMENTS PROGRAMS. EVEN BILL CLINTON USED THE WORD UNSUSTAINABLE TO DESCRIBE THEM. BARACK OBAMA USED THE WORD UNSUSTAINABLE TO DESCRIBE IT. AND WHY, THEN, DOES NOTHING HAPPEN? BECAUSE THE NUMBER ONE OBJECTIVE OF MOST POLITICIANS PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED, OF COURSE, IS TO GET ELECTED. NUMBER TWO IS TO GET REELECTED. AND YOU DON’T GET ELECTED RUNNING TO REFORM MAJOR PROGRAMS TO TAKE STUFF AWAY FROM PEOPLE. THE OTHER SIDE WILL ACCUSE YOU OF NOT CARING ABOUT THE POOR, THE SICK, THE ELDERLY. SO THE ONLY WAY TO REFORM THIS IS TO FORCE THEM TO DO IT. BIDEN SO AS PRESIDENT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO REGAIN OUR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND NOT JUST FOR THE SHORT TERM, BUT FOR DECADES TO COME? HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT? WELL, I THINK, KIM, THE FIRST DAY, NUMBER ONE THING IN A BERTRAM ADMINISTRATION, ON DAY ONE, WE’D START SELLING ENERGY TO OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES, STOP BUYING IT FROM OUR ADVERSARIES. THAT’S JUST NUMBER ONE. AND OF COURSE, THERE’S REALLY AN ATTACK. I MEAN, YOU TALK I MEAN, IOWA’S THE SUPERPOWER OF ETHANOL AND BIOFUELS. NORTH DAKOTA, ONE OF THE LARGEST ENERGY PRODUCING STATES IN THE NATION. BUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAY THEIR ENERGY POLICY WAS DESIGNED BY CHINA BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO GO ALL ELECTRIC, IF YOU’RE TRYING TO GO ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, IT’S BASICALLY A WAR ON LIQUID FUELS. IT’S WHAT IT IS. AND IF IT’S A WAR ON LIQUID FUELS, IT’S A WAR ON AMERICA. AND IT’S A WAR ON MANUFACTURING. IT’S A WAR ON EVERYBODY THAT DRIVES A VEHICLE. IT’S A WAR ON FARMERS. IT’S A WAR ON PEOPLE THAT RAISE CORN FOR ETHANOL. AND IT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU’D WANT TO HAVE EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY PRODUCED HERE BECAUSE WE PRODUCE IT CLEANER, SAFER AND SMARTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD. AND IF YOU SAY WE’RE GOING TO GO ALL ELECTRIC AND THEN CHINA CONTROLS 85% OF THE RARE EARTH MINERALS IN THE WORLD, WE’RE JUST TRADING OPEC FOR SINOPEC ONLY. WE’D BE WE’RE IN A COLD WAR WITH CHINA. THEY’RE ALREADY USING THE EXPORT LIMITATIONS ON RARE EARTH MINERALS TO TO TO PUT SANCTIONS ON JAPAN. THEY’RE ALREADY PROVING TO US THEY WILL USE THAT AS A WEAPON. WE JUST CAN’T BE DEPENDENT ON CHINA FOR OUR FOR THE ENERGY IN OUR FUTURE. WE HAVE A CHANCE NOT ONLY TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT, BUT WE COULD BE ENERGY DOMINANT. WE COULD BE AN ENERGY SUPERPOWER. SO BRETT FROM DAVENPORT WANTS TO KNOW AS PRESIDENT, WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE? WELL, OF COURSE, TO LOWER GAS AND FOOD PRICES, BUT TO REALLY DEAL WITH BIDEN NOMICS, WELL, BIDEN NOMICS IS A FAILURE DESPITE ALL THE HAPPY TALK COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC, YOU CAN TELL THERE’S AN ELECTION COMING UP BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN DEMOCRATS ARE THE WHITE HOUSE ARE TELLING YOU HOW THEIR POLICIES ARE ALL WORKING. IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF A GROUCHO MARX SAID ONE TIME IN AN OLD MOVIE, HE SAID, WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE ME OR YOUR LYING EYES? RIGHT? I MEAN, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE. INFLATION IS UP 16.6%. THE WAR ON ENERGY BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS CAUSED GASOLINE PRICES TO BE UP 60%. THEY JUST JUMPED UP AGAIN LAST WEEK. THE CRISIS AT OUR BORDER IS 100% MANMADE. AND THAT MAN’S NAME IS JOE BIDEN. I MEAN, WE WE SECURED THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY BY BUILDING HUNDREDS OF MILES OF WALL BY NOW NEGOTIATING A REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY WITH THE MEXICANS AND USING TITLE 42, THEY DISMANTLED ALL OF THAT LITERALLY ON DAY ONE. NOW WE HAVE THE WORST BORDER CRISIS IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT IS I WILL TELL YOU, I THINK I’M THE FIRST CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN OUR PARTY TO COME OUT WITH A PLAN TO DEAL WITH INFLATION. AND JUST THIS WEEK, WE CAME OUT WITH A PLAN TO ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AGAIN. I MEAN, LOOK, THE INFLATION THAT’S HAPPENING IN AMERICA TODAY, ECONOMISTS ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT ALL KNOW IS BECAUSE OF RUNAWAY SPENDING IN WASHINGTON, DC. KATIE FROM MADISON COUNTY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THREE SPECIFIC ACTIONS YOU TAKE TO CONTROL THE BORDER. WELL, I WAS HERE YESTERDAY AND I SAW THE DIFFERENCE IN INTENTIONALITY FROM THE LAST ADMINISTRATION TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. I LITERALLY STOOD IN A JUNCTION WHERE THE LAST ADMINISTRATION’S WALL STOPPED, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION’S WALL BEGAN. AND TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, ONE OF THE WALLS WAS ABOUT 30FT HIGH ON CLIMBABLE. THE OTHER ONE, MY NINE YEAR OLD WOULD HAVE HAD A FUN CLIMBING IN ABOUT TWO SECONDS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ABOUT PROTECTING OUR BORDER. WE NEED TO, INSTEAD OF YOU WANT TO DEFUND SOMETHING, LET’S DEFUND THE 87,000 IRS AGENTS. WHY DON’T WE DEFUND THEM? THAT AND WHY DON’T WE USE THAT FOR BORDER PATROL AGENTS? AND WHY DON’T WE USE THAT FOR TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BORDER IS SAFE? AND THEN THE LAST THING IS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO DESIGNATE THE CARTELS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE FLOODING OUR STREETS WITH FENTANYL. 80 TO 90,000 AMERICANS DIE EVERY YEAR. THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A 747 CRASHING EVERY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THINK ABOUT THE NATIONAL TRAGEDY THAT WAS THE SUBMERSIBLES THAT COLLAPSED. AND THINK ABOUT IF A 747 WERE CRASHING EVERY DAY AND THAT’S NOT EVEN TO TALK ABOUT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRISIS, WHICH HAS NOW BECOME A BIGGER REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE CARTELS THAN DRUGS. IT’S AWFUL. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN SOUND OF FREEDOM, BUT THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS SEEN SOUND OF FREEDOM? YEAH. SO IT WAS EXECUTIVE PRODUCED IN PART BY SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN MIAMI. AND HE WAS TELLING ME THE STORY OF WHAT THEY DO WITH KIDS AS AND AS A FATHER. IT’S JUST SHOCKING. AND WE NEED TO HAVE A STRONG PRESIDENT THAT PROJECTS AMERICAN STRENGTH. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW THAT IS PROJECTING WEAKNESS AND THAT IS EMBOLDENING OUR ENEMIES ACROSS THE WORLD TO GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. AND WE’RE SEEING THAT AGGRESSION AND IT’S CREATING PROBLEMS FOR US. YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNOR SPOKE WITH VIVEK RAMASWAMY, NIKKI HALEY AND RON DESANTIS TO DAY. SHE’S SCHEDULED TO TALK WITH ASA HUTCHINSON, RYAN BINKLEY AND TIM SCOTT. THEN FRIDAY, HER FIRESIDE CHATS WRAP UP WITH PERRY JOHNSON AND WILL HURD. THOSE FIRESIDE CHATS TAKE PLACE AT JR’S SOUTHFORK RANCH NEAR THE LIVESTOCK PAVILION ON THE FAIRGROUNDS. WELL, THE GOVERNOR’S FIRESIDE CHAT IS JUST ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAIRGOERS TO HEAR FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. THE DES MOINES REGISTER IS HOLDING ITS TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SOAPBOX IN FRONT OF THE HORNER SERVICE CENTER ON THE GRAND CONCOURSE. YOU CAN FIND A SCHEDULE ON THE REGISTER’S WEBSITE WELL BEFORE MAKING HIS OWN STATE FAIR APPEARANCE. FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SPENT FRIDAY CAMPAIGNING IN SIX DIFFERENT COUNTIES ACROSS WESTERN IOWA. I WAS THERE FOLLOWING ALONG FOR THE ALL DAY ROAD TRIP AND ASKED DESANTIS IN AN EXCLUSIVE ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW ABOUT WHY HE’S GOING ALL IN ON IOWA. YOU’VE SHIFTED TO GO ALL IN ON IOWA. WHY MAKE THAT SHIFT AND WHY MAKE IT NOW? WELL, IT REALLY WASN’T A SHIFT. WE ALWAYS PLANNED ON IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THESE ARE STATES WHERE YOU’VE GOT TO BE ON THE GROUND. WE JUST ANNOUNCED THROUGH THE PAC, THE PAC ANNOUNCED COUNTY CHAIRS IN ALL 99 COUNTIES ALREADY WE’VE BEEN WE VISITED 38 OF THE 99 COUNTIES HERE IN IOWA. YOU KNOW, WE’VE DONE SIMILAR STUFF IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. SO THAT’S JUST THE WAY I THINK YOU’VE GOT TO DO IT. YOU’VE GOT TO EARN IT. AND I THINK PARTICULARLY IOWANS, THEY APPRECIATE WHEN YOU SHOW UP, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL OVERLOOK THAT. SO WE’RE GOING EVERYWHERE. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE THE CASE TO ALL 99 COUNTIES, AND THAT’S REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT. SO THAT WAS ALWAYS OUR PLAN. AS YOU’RE CAMPAIGNING, THE LATEST POLLING IN IOWA STILL SHOWS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD AHEAD OF YOU IN IOWA. HOW DO YOU CLOSE THAT GAP BETWEEN YOU AND TRUMP SPECIFICALLY IN IOWA? WELL, LOOK, I ACTUALLY THINK, YOU KNOW, WE’RE AHEAD OF WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE IN IOWA. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU’VE GOT TO GRIND EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T JUST SNAP YOUR FINGERS AND EVERYTHING HAPPENS. BUT I THINK WHAT WE’RE DOING IS, YOU KNOW, WE’RE SHOWING IOWANS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE’RE THE CANDIDATE THAT’S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO BEAT BIDEN AND DELIVER ON ALL THESE KEY PROMISES. DO IT FOR TWO TERMS AND REVERSE THE COUNTRY’S DECLINE. AND ONCE EVERYONE HEARS THAT MESSAGE, ONCE THEY LEARN ABOUT MORE ABOUT ME AS A VETERAN, AS A FATHER AND FAMILY GUY AND ALL THAT, WE’RE GETTING SUPPORT, SO WE JUST GOT TO DO IT. DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO WIN IOWA IN ORDER TO WIN THE NOMINATION? WELL, YOU NEED TO WIN A MAJORITY OF THE DELEGATES. AND SO THAT’S THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO. BUT I’LL TELL YOU, I MEAN, I THINK IOWA SETS UP VERY, VERY WELL FOR US. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SUPPORT WE’VE HAD, THE LEGISLATURE, WE’VE GOT ALL THESE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN IOWA ENDORSING ME AND HISTORIC NUMBERS BECAUSE THEY SEE THE SIMILARITIES OF THE LEADERSHIP WE’VE HAD IN FLORIDA WITH, SAY, YOUR GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR REYNOLDS, AND ALL THE SUCCESS. AND THEY KNOW THAT THAT’S WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS. YOU KNOW, WE WERE AT THE FAMILY LEADER SUMMIT AND HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE GREAT EVANGELICAL LEADERS. YOU KNOW, THEY’VE SEEN US STAND UP FOR PARENTS RIGHTS AND DEFEND THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDREN. SO WE’VE GOT A LOT I THINK, TO WORK WITH IN IOWA. I THINK WE’RE A VERY GOOD FIT FOR THIS STATE. TALKING ABOUT PARENTS RIGHTS AND CHILDREN, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN IOWA. AND YOUR OWN KIDS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FOCUS OF YOUR CAMPAIGN. YOU’VE BROUGHT THEM UP ONTO THE STAGE WITH YOU AT ALL OF THESE IOWA EVENTS. YOU KNOW, HOW HOW DOES BEING A FATHER OF YOUNG KIDS IMPACT YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENCY? WELL, ON ONE HAND, I MEAN, IT MAKES THE STATE FAIR A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A SIX, FIVE AND A THREE YEAR OLD RUNNING AROUND, I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO EAT. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO GET INTO. THEY’VE BEEN ON THE BUS TOUR WITH US. THEY’RE HAVING A GREAT TIME. THEY’RE GETTING TO SEE A LOT OF NEAT STUFF, MEET A LOT OF NICE, NICE PEOPLE. SO FROM THAT SENSE, IT’S KIND OF A GOOD FAMILY EXPERIENCE. BUT I THINK THE LARGER ISSUE IS I THINK PEOPLE WITH ME, THEY KNOW AS A LEADER, I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT PARENTS RIGHTS. I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION OVER INDOCTRINATION. WE’RE LIVING IT AS PARENTS BECAUSE WE’RE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. A LOT OF OTHER PARENTS SEE YOU KNOW, WE DON’T WANT TO BE IN A SOCIETY WHERE WE CAN’T EVEN HAVE OUR KIDS WATCH CARTOONS WITHOUT HAVING SOME AGENDA, TRYING TO BE IMPOSED ON THEM. SO I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS REALLY ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM WANT TO MAKE SURE KIDS CAN JUST BE KIDS AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE PHILOSOPHICALLY. BUT ALSO JUST IN OUR DAILY LIVES AS PARENTS. DOES THAT SET YOU APART, THOUGH, FROM A LOT OF THE CANDIDATES THAT YOU’RE RUNNING AGAINST FOR THE NOMINATION? DON’T HAVE YOUNG KIDS, OR DOES THAT GIVE YOU AN EDGE IN THE CAMPAIGN? WELL, I THINK IT DEFINITELY IT DEFINITELY IS A DISTINGUISHING FACTOR. BUT I THINK ADDING TO THAT IS THE FACT THAT AS GOVERNOR, I’VE DELIVERED ON ALL THESE ISSUES. I MEAN, WHEN WE HAVE STUFF LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN FLORIDA, WE ELIMINATED IT WHEN WE HAD THE GENDER IDEOLOGY. YOU KNOW, DISNEY WAS TRYING TO PUSH THAT. WE STOOD UP TO DISNEY, THE MOST POWERFUL COMPANY IN FLORIDA, TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE SEXUAL CONTENT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE’RE NOT GOING TO TEACH KIDS THAT THEY CAN CHANGE GENDERS. THAT IS JUST CRAZY. AND SO WE HAVE THE WINS OF STANDING UP FOR PARENTS AND PARENTS RIGHTS. IT’S NOT JUST LIP SERVICE FROM US. SO, YES, AS A GOVERNOR, ARMOUR, I’M ALSO DOING THIS AS A DAD, BUT WE’VE DELIVERED RESULTS. AND STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP, SENATOR JONI ERNST ADVICE TO THE CANDIDATES ON HOW TO WIN OVER IOWA VOTERS. IN IOWA. SENATOR JONI ERNST IS A KEY ADVISER TO MANY REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, THOUGH SHE’S PLEDGED NOT TO ENDORSE ANY ONE CANDIDATE. SHE DID TELL KCCI ALYSSA GOMEZ WHAT ADVICE SHE HAS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TRYING TO WIN OVER IOWANS. AND WE’VE SEEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP MAINTAIN A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD IN THE NATIONAL AND IOWA POLLING. IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO CANDIDATES THAT ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THAT GAP? WELL, I DO THINK HE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL LEAD OUT THERE IN THE POLLING AND FOR ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, THE KEY IS TO CONNECT WITH THAT IOWA VOTER. YOU KNOW WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH THEM? THAT IS AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE ON ON HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD. HOW CAN YOU BRING DOWN INFLATION? ECONOMY IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE TOP ISSUES WITH IOWA VOTERS RIGHT NOW. SO SO WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT YOU HAVE FOR OUR NATION AND WILL THAT RESONATE WITH THAT, THAT IOWA PARTICIPANT IN THE CAUCUSES? SO I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE GET OUT, JUST JUST GAUGE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO IOWANS AND THEN FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES WITH THAT GAPPING SO LARGE AT THIS POINT, DO YOU THINK IT’S STILL AN OPEN RACE? I THINK THERE’S STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE AND AGAIN, BECAUSE WE’RE FIRST IN THE NATION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CANDIDATE CAN COME IN, MEET WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND REALLY SHARE THEIR MESSAGE. I DO THINK THAT’S IMPORTANT. BUT BUT AGAIN, FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO IOWANS IS THAT IS GOING TO BE KEY. IF YOU CAN SHARE A PERSONAL STORY WITH THAT IOWAN AS A CANDIDATE, IT JUST BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THEM. SO SO LET’S LET’S HAVE ALL THESE CANDIDATES OUT THERE GET ON THE SOAPBOX, LET’S GET OUT THERE, VISIT WITH THE GOVERNOR, SHARE YOUR MESSAGE. NEXT ON CLOSE UP THE CASE, THOSE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS MADE AT AN IOWA FUNDRAISER. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. WHILE MOST OF THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS CAMPAIGNING AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR, SEVERAL ALSO TRIED TO WIN SUPPORT WITH AN APPEARANCE AT A FUNDRAISER FOR REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY HINSON. EACH TALKED ABOUT THEIR PLANS IF THEY WIN THE WHITE HOUSE. WHEN I AM ELECTED PRESIDENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT I WOULD DO IMMEDIATELY. NUMBER ONE, I WILL START FINISHING THE WALL. LET’S FACE IT, IT IS COSTING US $150.7 BILLION A YEAR BECAUSE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AND WE HAVE MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY. THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAN LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. AND I SAY THAT IS RIDICULOUS. NOT ONLY DOES IT COST US SO MUCH MONEY, WE ARE POISONING OUR KIDS, POISONING OUR CULTURE, AND KILLING OUR KIDS WITH THE FENTANYL, I SAY WE STOP IT. NUMBER TWO, YOU NEVER AGAIN WILL WE ALLOW A MINOR TO RUIN THEIR LIVES BY HAVING TRANSITION THERAPY. IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AND NUMBER THREE, AND I KNOW MANY DON’T LIKE THIS, I AM GOING TO SHUT DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. I WANT EVERYONE TO REALIZE THAT LITERALLY ONLY $0.08 OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING TO GRADES K THROUGH 12. AND THAT IS A SIN. I SAY WE JUST GET RID OF ALL BUT TEN PEOPLE, GET RID OF 4390 PEOPLE AND SHIP THAT MONEY DIRECTLY TO THE PARENTS AND LET THEM SEND THEM TO THE SCHOOLS OF THEIR CHOICE. NOW, THE FOURTH THING IS THAT I AM GOING TO SHUT DOWN THE FBI. WE’RE DISMANTLING IT. THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT WE HAVE TOO MUCH CORRUPTION THAT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR LITERALLY. 45 TO 50 YEARS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN? IT MEANS WE BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW. AND I SAY THIS AS THE KID OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THAT MEANS YOU ARE FIRST ACT OF ENTERING THIS COUNTRY CANNOT BREAK THE LAW. WE WILL USE THE US MILITARY TO CLOSE THAT SWISS CHEESE OF A SOUTHERN BORDER THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND FOR THE RULE OF LAW IN THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN? IT MEANS WE BELIEVE IN A RADICAL DREAM THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS HAD A RADICAL DREAM THAT I HAVE AS A CITIZEN, THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WE ELECT TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY RUN THE GOVERNMENT, NOT THE DEEP STATE THAT ACTUALLY RUNS THE SHOW TODAY. SO I’VE SAID THAT, LOOK, IF I CAN’T BE YOUR US PRESIDENT FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS AND COLLECT A PAYCHECK FROM THE TAXPAYER FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD THING, THEN NEITHER SHOULD ANY OF THOSE FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS EITHER TO REPLACE THE CIVIL SERVICE PROTECTIONS WITH TERM LIMITS FOR THE BUREAUCRACY. ALL RIGHT. THAT’S HOW WE REVIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC WHEN THERE ARE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST, THAT HAVE BECOME SO CORRUPTED THAT THEY HAVE LOST THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE FROM THE FBI TO THE ATF TO THE IRS TO THE CDC, TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WE WILL NOT JUST REFORM THOSE AGENCIES AS NOW. WE WILL GET IN THERE AND WE WILL SHUT THEM THEM DOWN THERE. THERE IS SOME SIMPLE PRINCIPLES IN LIFE WHEN YOU LOOK AT BORDER SECURITY. ENFORCE THE LAW. WHENEVER YOU LOOK IN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITIES TODAY, ENFORCE THE LAW. AND I BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT’S BEEN BOTH A GOVERNOR, A UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, A HEAD OF THE DEA, THAT EXPERIENCE ON NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES. AND WHAT I’M LEADING TO IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A PRO-GROWTH ENERGY POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE NEED TO HAVE IMPROVED BORDER SECURITY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE RESPECTED ABROAD. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO ELEVATE THE RULE OF LAW IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT SUPPORTS THE RULE OF LAW. AND YES, THERE’S CHALLENGES IN IT THAT WE HAVE TO CORRECT. AND SO I HAVE PROPOSED A REFORM OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. I ANNOUNCED AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN WHICH WE WOULD PULL THE JURISDICTION OF THE FBI AWAY FROM DRUGS AND GIVE IT TO THE DEA. WE WOULD SHRINK THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. WE WOULD MAKE SURE IT WAS TRANSPARENT AND CONGRESS HAD OVERSIGHT OF THE FBI. WE WOULD BRING THEM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. SO THEY’RE NOT OPERATING THEIR OWN. AND YES, I WOULD GET A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WOULD ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW IN A WAY THAT’S FAIR FOR OUR COUNTRY. THESE ARE MY REFORM PROPOSALS. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE TODAY FROM MY HEART THAT WE ARE A PARTY THAT BELIEVES IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT WE WANT IT TO WORK FAIRLY. AND WE WANT IT TO WORK RIGHTLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY. WE NEED TO TAKE CHINA HEAD ON THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS YOU SAY CHINA WILL NO LONGER BUY ANY AMERICAN SOIL WHATSOEVER OVER. AND WE DON’T STOP THERE. WE TAKE BACK THE US SOIL THEY HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED IT. THAT’S A PROBLEM FOR OUR FARMERS. AND YOU KNOW, THEY BOUGHT THE NUMBER ONE PORK PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY. THAT’S RIGHT HERE IN IOWA. RIGHT. THAT’S FOOD INSECURITY. THEN WE’LL GO TO OUR UNIVERSITIES. WE SAY YOU EITHER TAKE CHINESE MONEY OR YOU TAKE AMERICAN MONEY. BUT THE DAYS OF TAKING BOTH ARE OVER. WE WILL GET THAT CHINESE INFILTRATION OUT OF OUR UNIVERSITIES. WE WON’T JUST STOP THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. WE WILL STOP ALL FOREIGN LOBBYING, PERIOD, AGAINST TO ANY OF OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. WE WILL GET THAT OUT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT CHINA KNOWS THAT WE WILL STOP ALL NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA IF THEY DON’T STOP KILLING AMERICANS. THERE IS A LIST OF CYBER TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE DON’T WANT CHINA TO HAVE BECAUSE IT BUILDS UP THEIR MILITARY AND IT THREATENS AMERICA. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION APPROVED 70% OF THOSE REQUESTS LAST YEAR. WE WILL TURN THAT LIST INTO A BLACKLIST AND WE WILL STOP SENDING ANY TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA THAT COULD HURT AMERICA. AND