'America Is Exhausted:' Evangelical Leader Urges GOP To 'Turn Page' On Trump For 2024 Iowa Caucus

A prominent evangelical leader in Iowa has called on Republicans to "turn the page" on Donald Trump and explore alternative candidates for the 2024 Iowa caucus contest

What Happened: Bob Vander Plaats, head of "The Family Leader," a Christian conservative group in Iowa, criticized Trump, highlighting what he perceived as the former president's relentless pursuit of "vengeance" following his defeat in the 2020 election, as well as his insufficient commitment to fully supporting the anti-abortion agenda.

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Vander Plaats said that the American people have grown weary of Trump's attempts to relitigate the 2020 election. "I think America is exhausted by it. I think they're tired of it," he said, adding, "I think they want to turn the page to the next generation leader, someone who's got a compelling vision that might unite America around things that actually bless America."

He made these comments during an interview on The Hill's news program on the cable channel News Nation.

Vander Plaats also highlighted Trump's recent remarks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's abortion bill, which Trump deemed "too harsh" even for many pro-lifers.

Vander Plaats said that Trump's statements such as, "You're the reason we didn't do better in 2022," and more recently, calling DeSantis's signing of the Florida bill "too harsh," have caused him to distance himself from the pro-life community.

"The pro-life community expects better than that," Vander Plaats insisted, adding, "That's why I think the Iowa caucus store has flung wide open for people to take a look at who should be our nominee."

Why It Matters: The significance of Vander Plaats's statements lies in his standing as a prominent evangelical leader.

Also, the crucial abortion debate is anticipated to fuel division within the Republican primary and the upcoming presidential election. Trump's reluctance to fully support nationwide limitations positions him in direct opposition to influential figures within the anti-abortion movement who are actively promoting federal measures.

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