Former President Donald Trump held a rally and launched his Farmers for Trump coalition this past weekend in Council Bluffs, Iowa to tout his support of agriculture and ethanol.

The Republican presidential candidate highlighted actions he took while in office to help farmers, such as rolling back the Waters of the United States, ending the estate tax, renegotiating trade agreements, and supporting ethanol, while attacking both his GOP opponent Ron DeSantis and current President Joe Biden. “Every Iowan needs to know that Ron ‘DeSanctus’ totally despises Iowa ethanol and ethanol generally,” said Trump. “Joe Biden is trying to kill Iowa ethanol and replace it with expensive electric cars.”

Trump made note of the year-round E15 waiver that he announced in 2019, not far from where the rally was held on Saturday. “In addition, I dramatically increased the number of fueling stations where E15 could be sold,” he said. “I like to say very strongly and proudly that I fought for Iowa ethanol like no president.”

Listen to some of Trump’s remarks here:
Pres. Donald Trump Iowa rally (26:56)

One of the people sharing the stage with President Trump was Renewable Fuels Association Director for Environment, Health & Safety Justin Schultz who previously worked for the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) plant where Trump announced the E15 waiver in 2019. Schultz participated in a pre-rally panel where he talked about the importance of ethanol, which he tied into the theme of national security. “I served in the military for 23 years, I got two combat tours overseas, and when I think about foreign dependence on oil and what we are able to do in the state of Iowa and the Midwest to basically get rid of that dependence, it’s with products like E15,” said Schultz.

Schultz noted that 15 percent of the ethanol industry workforce is made up of veterans. “This agricultural community, we’re the toughest people in the nation, we’re the type of people that roll up our sleeves and get things done,” he said.

Listen to Justin’s comments here:
Pre-Trump Rally panel - Justin Schultz, RFA (3:42)