By Trendsetter Tribune 
DES MOINES, Iowa — In a rare and scathing rebuke from within a deep-red stronghold, a prominent editorial published on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, has accused the state’s Republican leadership of “moral cowardice” and “licking the president’s boots” at the expense of local interests. The editorial, appearing in the Des Moines Register, has sent ripples through the GOP establishment, highlighting a growing tension between “America First” loyalty and traditional state-level conservatism.
The piece comes as several Midwestern governors face heat for their unwavering support of the administration’s new 15% global tariff—a policy that has hit agricultural exports particularly hard.
The “Bootlicking” Allegation
The editorial board did not mince words, specifically targeting the state’s congressional delegation and Governor Kim Reynolds for their refusal to challenge the White House on trade and federal land use policies.
- The Accusation: The board argued that the local GOP has transitioned from “partners in governance” to a “subservient auxiliary of the White House.”
- The “Boot” Metaphor: The piece noted that while the administration’s “New Global Tariff” has led to a $4.2 billion drop in Iowa soybean exports, local Republican leaders have spent more time “defending the president’s genius” than protecting their own farmers.
- The Legislative Silence: The editorial highlighted the silence of the state’s U.S. Senators regarding the recent “surveillance-by-proxy” scandals and the controversial use of masked federal agents in local jurisdictions.
The Agricultural Fallout
The “licking the boots” critique is rooted in the tangible economic anxiety currently gripping the Corn Belt.
| Policy | Local Impact | GOP Leadership Response |
| 15% Global Tariff | Retaliatory tariffs from China and the EU have slashed crop prices to 10-year lows. | Largely supportive, framing the pain as a “temporary sacrifice for national greatness.” |
| Land Requisition | Rumors of federal eminent domain for “Border-Style” security infrastructure in the interior. | Mostly silent, citing “national security” concerns. |
| DOGE Cuts | Proposed 25% cut to USDA farm subsidy programs. | Several Iowa House members expressed “caution” but refused to vote against the preliminary budget framework. |
The Rebuttal: “Unity is Strength”
The response from the GOP establishment was swift. A spokesperson for the Republican Party of Iowa dismissed the editorial as the “dying gasps of a liberal media outlet” that doesn’t understand the current movement.
“There is no ‘bootlicking’—there is only a united front. Our leaders recognize that a strong President leads to a strong Iowa. The ‘Register’ is simply upset that they no longer have a seat at the table of power.” — Iowa GOP Statement, Feb 24, 2026
The National Context: “Red-on-Red” Conflict
The Iowa editorial mirrors a broader national trend where “Establishment” or “Institutionalist” Republicans in red states are beginning to clash with the “MAGA-fied” state parties.
- The Ohio Divide: Last week, a similar editorial in Columbus criticized Sen. JD Vance for “abandoning his home state’s Christian values” in favor of “foreign policy gymnastics.”
- The Utah Defiance: Sen. Mitt Romney (ret.) and several Utah state legislators have publicly backed the “Principles First” movement, calling for a “return to sanity” and an end to the “cult of personality” surrounding the executive branch.
- The 2026 Midterm Risk: GOP strategists warn that if local leaders are seen as too subservient to the White House, they may face “purity tests” in primaries or an “enthusiasm gap” among moderate suburban voters this November.
What’s Next?
The “bootlicking” editorial is expected to be a primary talking point at the Midwest GOP Leadership Conference starting this Friday in Omaha. Observers will be watching to see if any high-profile governors—such as Doug Burgum or Sarah Huckabee Sanders—will offer a more nuanced defense of state interests or double down on their absolute alignment with the “America First” agenda.