Donald Trump cruised to victory in Iowa during an easy night's work for the former President. (Image: GETTY)
Donald Trump recorded an emphatic victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night as Ron DeSantis finished second.
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The former President was declared winner just 31 minutes after caucusing began as Iowans fought subzero temperatures to cast their vote in schools, churches and community centers.
Speaking after the result was confirmed, a beaming Trump sent a message to his GOP rivals.
He told a cheering crowd: "I really think this is time now for everybody, our country, to come together, whether it's Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative."
Trump did not win in Iowa during his successful 2016 bid to become President - losing out to Texas Senator Ted Cruz who took 27.6 percent of the vote to Trump's 24.3 percent.
But, as of 6.25am (1.25am EST) he had secured 51 percent of the vote this time round, compared to DeSantis's 21.2 percent and Haley's 19.1 percent.
READ MORE: Weather warnings spark travel chaos as winter storms batter US
THIS LIVE BLOG IS NOW CLOSED.
KEY EVENTS Haley looks to New Hampshire and vows to make primary a 'two-person race'05:24 Vivek Ramaswamy pulls out of the race - and endorses Trump04:40 Trump calls for America to 'come together'04:30 Ron DeSantis poised to take second place with 87% of votes counted03:54 38% of the votes counted...03:09 Former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka reacts03:04 TRUMP WINS01:45 Realclear politics projection01:08 DeSantis vows to stay in race even if he comes third in vote00:45
10 hours ago05:24 Alex Shipman
Haley looks to New Hampshire and vows to make primary a 'two-person race'
Nikki Haley finished third in the Iowa caucuses but remains in good spirits.
Looking forward, she said in the aftermath: "When you look at how we're doing in New Hampshire, in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight, I will make this Republican primary a two-person race."
Defiant Haley also said Trump and Democrat Joe Biden were the wrong choice for President in 2024 - because they represent "more of the same."
11 hours ago05:09 Alex Shipman
Smiling DeSantis says 'we got our ticket punched out of Iowa'
Many projections had Haley beating DeSantis before the contest.
Speaking to voters afterwards, the Florida Governor smiled as he said: "They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us.
"They even called the election before people even got a chance to vote.
"Because of your support, in spite of all of that they threw at us, everyone against us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa."
11 hours ago04:40 Alex Shipman
Vivek Ramaswamy pulls out of the race - and endorses Trump
Vivek Ramaswamy announced he is suspending his presidential campaign after a disappointing result in Iowa.
He told a crowd of voters: "I will stick to the truth tonight. The first hard truth and this was hard for me, I gotta admit this, but we've looked at it every which way.
"And I think it is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight.
"As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign.
"Earlier tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. And now going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency."
Ramaswamy speaks to a voter in Iowa (Image: Getty)
11 hours ago04:30 Alex Shipman
Trump calls for America to 'come together'
In his victory speech, a beaming Trump sent a message to his GOP rivals.
He told a cheering crowd: "I really think this is time now for everybody, our country, to come together, whether it's Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative."
Donald Trump speaking after Iowa victory (Image: Getty)
12 hours ago03:54 Adam Manno
Ron DeSantis poised to take second place with 87% of votes counted
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears poised to take second place in Iowa with 21.3 percent of the vote.
Eighty-seven percent of the votes were countd as of 11 p.m.
Trump handily won the nation's first 2024 Republican primary contest with 51 percent of the vote, as of the latest tally.
DeSantis's position is "as expected," Republican strategist Amy Koch tells Daily Express US. "We shall see about numbers tomorrow for the spread.I think DeSantis continues on to New Hampshire, I assume."
DeSantis appears poised to take second place in Iowa with 85 percent of the vote counted (Image: GETTY)
13 hours ago03:09 Alex Shipman
38% of the votes counted...
The race for second remains tight after 38 percent of the votes are counted.
Currently, AP has Trump at 52.8 percent, DeSantis at 20 percent and Haley at 18.2 percent.
13 hours ago03:04 Alex Shipman
Former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka reacts
Sebastian Gorka, who served as Deputy Assistant to the President for seven months, has reacted to the result.
He told Daily Express US the Republican frontrunner is "vindicated".
Report to follow.
Sebastian Gorka, former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States, pictured in March (Image: Getty)
13 hours ago03:03 Alex Shipman
'We know that Trump and MAGA control the GOP'
Reacting to the result, Ryan Wiggins chief of staff at anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project, told Daily Express US: "The Lincoln Project lives in reality, and we know that Trump and MAGA control the GOP.
"It's been obvious for months Trump would win tonight and destroy his competition.
"For Trump, it means he’s well on his way towards his inevitable nomination. What it means to democrats and independents is even more important. They need to wake up and understand that he will be the nominee and that it's time to start working to stop him."
14 hours ago01:45 Alex Shipman
TRUMP WINS
Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa, according to Associated Press.
14 hours ago01:25 Alex Shipman
Doors close
Voters in Iowa have battled bitterly cold temperatures as they prepare to debate their choice for the 2024 Republican nomination.
The caucus - which began at 8pm EST - pits overwhelming favorite Donald Trump against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Projections by RealClearPolitics predict a Trump win by a massive 49.4 points, while the final Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll found the former president with 48 percent support - ahead of Haley at 20 percent and DeSantis at 16 percent.
Results are not a sure-fire indicator of success in the overall campaign, though the winning candidate will gather significant momentum moving into the New Hampshire primary next week.
It could have huge implications for candidate's who perform poorly, with DeSantis tipped to drop out of the race altogether if he fails to garner significant support.
Ryan Wiggins, chief of staff at anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project, told Daily Express US: "The counting of votes is just a formality - it's been obvious for months that Donald Trump will cruise to a win in Iowa and all the way to the nomination. Forty percent of the party’s voters are absolute die-hards who are voting for him even if he’s in jail."
15 hours ago01:08 Alex Shipman
Realclear politics projection
Trump has 49.4 point lead, according to analysts at Realclear politics.
RealClearPolitics numbers for the GOP Nomination and Iowa ahead of the Iowa Caucus.
Predictions for Tonight? pic.twitter.com/lK6P0rYMbm
\u2014 Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 16, 2024
15 hours ago00:45 Alex Shipman
DeSantis vows to stay in race even if he comes third in vote
Ron DeSantis is adamant that he will not drop out of the 2024 Presidential Elections even if he comes third in the Iowa caucuses this evening.
Donald Trump holds a commanding lead in the Hawkeye State, with South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley now passing DeSantis into second place.
The Iowa caucuses, the opening contest in the months-long Republican presidential primary process, begin at 8pm EST - 7pm local time.
Caucus participants will gather inside more than 1,500 schools, churches and community centers to debate their options, in some cases for hours, before casting secret ballots.
The National Weather Service said temperatures could reach -30 degrees with wind chill in the Plains region and -50 in Montana and the Dakotas.
The record-breaking severe weather forecast could complicate the outcome of the race if it suppresses voter turnout. The snow and ice have already wreaked havoc on the candidates’ schedules, thwarting their plans to crisscross Iowa and make their final pitches to voters.
Due to the weather, Trump's campaign had to cancel events featuring surrogates advocating for the former president, including Mike Huckabee and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
16 hours ago23:43 Alex Shipman
DeSantis 'put a lot of effort into Iowa' as experts expect Republican to drop out
Iowa is a "key" state for Ron DeSantis as he battles rival Nikki Haley for second place in the state's primary caucus.
The Florida governor "has been putting a lot of effort into Iowa," Republican strategist Amy Koch tells Daily Express US. "So Iowa is really key for him in securing that second spot."
A second place finish could bolster Desantis's flailing campaign and allow him to enter the New Hampshire contest with some momentum.
Almost half of likely Iowa caucusgoers support Donald Trump, according to the latest Des Moines Register/NBC News poll.
READ MORE HERE.
DeSantis pictured with supporters in Iowa (Image: Getty)
17 hours ago22:46 Alex Shipman
Trump says a Vivek vote is a 'wasted' vote
In a typically combative rallying cry, Trump raged: "Nikki Haley can never win in the General Election because she doesn't have MAGA, and never will! Ron DeSanctimonious, at least, is MAGA-Lite.
"Remember, I think MAGA is almost ALL of the Republican Party."
READ MORE HERE.
18 hours ago21:57 Alex Shipman
Texas Congressman Ronny Jackson's rallying cry for Trump
The former White House physician & retired Navy Rear Admiral has wrapped up warm to venture out in snow Iowa.
TODAY IS OUR FIRST VICTORY TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
If you\u2019re in Iowa - go and caucus for TRUMP tonight!! pic.twitter.com/FxUVyD9Cc9
\u2014 Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) January 15, 2024
19 hours ago20:15 Alex Shipman
What is at stake?
For Democrats, nothing is at stake, since the 2024 caucuses will have no bearing on the presidential race.
For Republicans, there are usually two prizes in the Iowa caucuses: delegates and bragging rights.
Iowa Republican voters will indicate their picks for the party’s presidential nominee, and the results of that vote will determine how many of the state’s 40 convention delegates each candidate will receive.
Candidates win national convention delegates in direct proportion to the percentage of the vote they receive.
There is no minimum threshold required to qualify for delegates.
20 hours ago19:30 Alex Shipman
EXPLAINER: How are caucuses different from primaries?
One of the main differences between caucuses and primaries is the amount of time allotted for voting to occur and the methods by which people can vote.
In a primary, people can show up at the polls and cast ballots throughout Election Day, from the early morning until polls close in the evening.
They have the option of casting an absentee ballot if they can’t make it to the polls on Election Day, and in some states, people may vote before Election Day.
The Iowa caucuses, on the other hand, are held in the evening and voters must attend in person in order to participate, except in a few isolated instances.
Caucuses are run by political parties, whereas primaries are usually (but not always) run by the state.
20 hours ago19:15 Alex Shipman
EXPLAINER: What is a caucus?
A political caucus is a gathering of people with a shared interest or goal.
The Iowa caucuses are a series of local meetings held throughout the state where participants conduct party business and usually indicate their preference for a presidential nominee to represent the party on the November ballot.
It’s also the first step in a months-long process to select people to serve as delegates to the national party conventions this summer.
21 hours ago18:15 Alex Shipman
'Exhausted' Donald Trump sparks health fears
Donald Trump raised questions about his health from his opponents after a video of him seemingly “dragging [that] right leg” went viral on social media, despite no evidence the former president’s health is deteriorating.
The former president, who is set for caucus showdown in a freezing Iowa today, has had to fend off speculation about his health and vitality for years, with Trump preferring to conceal intimate details of his medical records in an effort to maintain his image in front of the public.
But two clips of Trump from a recent address to residents of the city of Waukee have once again sparked questions about his health, with videos reposted by anti-Trump accounts claiming that Trump is dragging his leg behind him, including one where he is delivering "a lot of pizza" to firefighters a day ahead of the Iowa caucus.
READ MORE HERE.
23 hours ago16:15 Rebecca Robinson
Vivek Ramaswamy says campaign 'most memorable' experience of his life
Vivek Ramaswamy thanked Iowans for the most "memorable experience" of his life as he joked he's been humbled by the campaign trail.
He said: "It has been the most humbling experience of my lifetime. I understand why Iowa goes first, because this is a job interview. You got to see it that way. Sometimes presidential candidates forget that when you're talking to the media all the time.
"It's been the most humbling but fulfilling and memorable experience of our lives. Even tonight, late tonight, when we begin to make our way to New Hampshire, however late in the night that is, we're gonna miss this place. We're going to miss all of you. We're going to miss this year."
yesterday15:26 Rebecca Robinson
Haley hits back at Trump during campaign stop
Nikki Haley argued Americans don't want to talk about "whether somebody’s MAGA or not," after Donald Trump accused her and Vivek Ramaswamy of being against his Make America Great Again movement.
She said at Drake Diner in Iowa: "This is not what Americans want to be talking about. They’re wanting to know why economy’s high, why inflation’s high, why everything’s more expensive, they want to know why we aren’t focused on getting our kids reading again, they want to know how we’re allowing the lawlessness at the border, it’s out of control, not whether somebody’s MAGA or not."
"That’s the whole problem with where we are in this country, it’s become too personal. Politics is not personal, it should be about policy."
yesterday15:16 Rebecca Robinson
Trump slams rivals in social media rant
Donald Trump has delivered multiple scathing posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, going after his caucus rivals.
He claimed Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are "losing badly" to him and Joe Biden in the polls.
In another post he said: "Nikki is using an old poll to show she’s beating Crooked Joe. She’s not. Almost all new polls show she is being decimated by him. I am beating Crooked Joe, by a lot, in the polls."
He also slammed voting for Vivek Ramaswamy as "a wasted vote" and urged people to vote for him to "take [back] our very troubled nation".
yesterday14:39 Rebecca Robinson
Biden campaign keeping close eye on Trump in preparation for election battle
The Biden campaign is preparing for an election matchup with Donald Trump as he proves to be the favourite ahead of the caucuses.
Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said: "[We are] excited for the fight ahead [and are] watching closely to see what emerges here tonight in Iowa, ready to provide the American people with the stark contrast between the president, who’s fighting for more freedom and more democracy, and these MAGA extremists led by Donald Trump, who want to tear down the fabric of American democracy."
Tyler told CNN This Morning that his team was "absolutely ready" to take on Trump.
He added: "We've been gearing up for that fight since launch in April 2023, and we're scaling up our operation right now, to meet the moment meet the challenge presented by Donald Trump and the threat that he represents to American democracy."
yesterday14:16 Rebecca Robinson
Nikki Haley confident in Iowans despite sub-zero temperatures
Nikki Haley said she is confident that Iowans will turn out for her at the caucuses today, despite the record breaking weather.
She said: "Iowans are not deterred by this. From everything we've seen, they plan on getting out, they plan on caucusing. And we're not deterred either. We're going to be out there in the snow until the very last second trying to earn every vote."
She believes "people are determined to get out and vote" for her, despite the cold weather.
yesterday14:04 Rebecca Robinson
Trump could claim biggest Republican win in Iowa caucus history
Donald Trump is currently 30 points ahead of his other candidates, with Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis appearing to be vying for second place.
If that lead holds out tonight, Trump will secure the largest margin of victory of any Republican candidate in the history of the Iowa caucuses.
yesterday13:48 Rebecca Robinson
Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene arrives in Iowa
Congresswoman and staunch Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene has arrived in Iowa, despite the freezing temperatures, ready to cast her vote.
I\u2019m here in Iowa, the snow and sub-zero temps won\u2019t stop my SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP!
It\u2019s time to show up, be safe, and deliver Iowa for President Trump in HISTORIC fashion!
See you at the caucus at 6:30pm tomorrow night! pic.twitter.com/YtWjWKdNyg
\u2014 Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@mtgreenee) January 15, 2024
yesterday11:57 Rosie Jempson
Trump called out by heckler for 'taking millions' from foreign government
A heckler called out Trump for "taking millions from foreign governments" while he was President. ,
The former US President, 77, said: "Go home to Mommy! Your mommy’s worried.”
Trump later criticised the protestor, calling her “young and immature,” only to come face to face with even more heckling and booing that broke out when another protester could be heard calling Mr Trump a “climate criminal”.
yesterday11:51 Rosie Jempson
Donald Trump admits to 'worry' about severe weather
A windswept Trump could be seen entering a hotel in the Iowa capital, Des Moines, on Sunday.
He told reporters: "That’s a lot of cold weather. We’ve got a lot of meetings tonight. We’re doing well. We have a lot of tremendous support, But it’s nasty out there."
He was forced to cancel three in-person rallies over the weekend due to heavy snow.
In a hastily arranges virtual campaign, Trump said: "I just landed on an airplane and it’s nasty out there.
“From the airplane to the car was about 20ft and I’m saying wow, that’s blowing – you have a hard time reaching it. But it’s getting better.
“I worry about that but at the same time, I’m watching even the newscast today, they’re saying the Trump voter has so much more spirit, dedication. They say they’ll walk over glass, that the Trump voter’s coming to vote.”
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yesterday11:12 Matthew Dooley
Good morning
Good morning. I'm Rosie Jempson in London. We'll be bringing you all the latest on the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses. If you have any story tips to share, get in touch!
Email: rosie.jempson@reachplc.com
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