In a resounding victory on Monday night, January 15, former US President Donald Trump secured an indisputable win in the initial contest of the US Republican party presidential race, the Iowa caucus. This victory not only solidifies his position as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but also marks a historic moment in the modern history of the Iowa GOP caucus.
At 77 years old, Trump achieved the most significant margin of victory ever recorded in the Iowa GOP caucus since its inception in 1976. Furthermore, he stands out as the first Republican candidate to garner over 50% support in a contested caucus.
As the clock struck midnight on Tuesday, Trump had a commanding lead with 51.1% support, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trailing at 21.2%, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 19.1%, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 7.7%, who gracefully withdrew from the race, throwing his support behind Trump.
Remarkably, Trump dominated in 98 out of Iowa's 99 counties, with only Johnson County, home to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, narrowly eluding a clean sweep by favoring Haley.
In his victory speech in Des Moines, Trump expressed congratulations to his fellow contenders, Ron and Nikki, emphasizing the camaraderie they shared. Trump called for unity among Americans, transcending party lines, urging everyone to come together and address the challenges facing the nation.
Paying tribute to his late mother-in-law, Amalija Knavs, who passed away on January 9, Trump spoke emotionally, stating that she would be proud of their achievements. He echoed a plea for national unity, emphasizing the need to address global issues, death, and destruction collectively.
Despite hundreds of ongoing caucus meetings across Iowa, media outlets declared Trump the winner at 8:30 p.m. ET, drawing criticism from DeSantis. The Florida governor accused the press of unduly influencing the outcome, citing instances where news alerts of a "Trump victory" reached voters before speeches concluded or voting began.
DeSantis, who invested heavily in an Iowa ground game, expressed frustration at the early projection, stating that the media attempted to tarnish the democratic process. Despite challenges and a substantial financial attack, DeSantis assured his supporters that he would not make excuses and vowed not to let them down.
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