GOP uses obscure Twitter account to praise DeSantis, beat Trump: Report

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has a little-known Twitter account that is being used to praise Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2024 campaign and make harsh criticisms of former President Donald Trump and former Carolina Gov. South Nikki Haley, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Reynolds' main Twitter, @IAGovernor, is a verified government account with more than 70,000 followers and describes the governor as a “5th generation Iowan” with a link to her website. Your alternate account @Kimberl26890376, reported Thursday by the NYT, is unverified with about 500 followers, has a selfie profile picture of Reynolds and her husband, and contains no biography or formal connection to her official account.

While @IAGovernor de Reynolds seems to post frequently about her ongoing work as governor, most of @Kimberl26890376's recent activity is reposts of criticism of Trump and Haley, or displays of support for DeSantis.

The latest from Reynolds refuel On the account @Kimberl26890376 is a photo of DeSantis and her family next to a separate photo of Trump with unidentified women at a party, with the caption: “The contrast is stark.” Another restock attacks Haley as “non-conservative” and a “liberal Democrat who is actively auditioning to be Trump's vice presidential running mate.”

Other posts by @Kimberl26890376 praise DeSantis as “the sand man,” and the “easier decision” for voters in 2024, the NYT reported. In some of his own posts on this account, Reynolds refers to DeSantis as “a true leader” and one “undeniable winner.”

she”I like” from this account reflect the opinions of her posts and reposts, with one referring to Haley as an “establishment puppet” compared to the “conservative fighter” DeSantis. Another post likes refers to supporters of DeSantis as “alpha males.”

Reynolds formally announced his endorsement for DeSantis in November 2023, calling him the “most effective leader [she’d] never seen” and encouraging the Republican base to throw their support behind him, although he noted that he would end up voting “whoever the Republican nominee is.”

Reynolds' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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