Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Inside Washington email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Former Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil faced a backlash online from US political commentators for a remark made about the results of the Iowa caucuses.
As predicted, Donald Trump stormed to victory in the event, the first major contest of the year on Monday. Ron DeSantis squeaked to a close second place ahead of Nikki Haley.
The now trio – following the departures of Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson from the race – will now face voters in New Hampshire next week.
Neil, a veteran British broadcaster and editor of London’s Sunday Times from 1983 to 1994, wrote on X/Twitter: “US commentators slow to realise that Haley and DeSantis being effectively neck and neck for second place in Iowa is good news for Trump.
“Means neither heads to New Hampshire, where things will be tougher for Trump, with clear momentum.”
RECOMMENDED
Marjorie Taylor Greene threatens House Speaker Mike Johnson in Fox News interview
Trump lawyer quits his legal team ahead of latest E Jean Carroll trial
VisionaryProfit
Exclusive Alert: Wall Street Veteran Urges Immediate Action for Nvidia Investors!VisionaryProfit| Sponsored Sponsored
YourPennySaver
Seniors on SS Are Now Entitled To These 24 "Kickbacks" In January (Tap For Full List)YourPennySaver| Sponsored Sponsored
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
His remarks prompted a quick response from US political reporters and columnists, including The Independent’s Eric Garcia, who wrote: “American who writes for a British newspaper here: We all knew that, dude.
“Furthermore, Haley criminally underperforming blunts her momentum going into New Hampshire when she was starting to pick up *some* steam (but clearly not enough).”
Promoted stories
New Mazda CX-5
Killer New Mazda CX-5 Will Leave You Speechless (Take a Look at The Prices)New Mazda CX-5 Search Now
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Neil responded: “Yet so few of you have been making it, online or on air, Mr Dude.”
Andrew Neil edited London’s Sunday Times for much of the Reagan and Thatcher eras
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/06/18/d296faf09f552055edfc3b8e9f00e2ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAxOTcwNTU3-2.71202675.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/06/18/d296faf09f552055edfc3b8e9f00e2ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAxOTcwNTU3-2.71202675.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/06/18/d296faf09f552055edfc3b8e9f00e2ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAxOTcwNTU3-2.71202675.jpg" data-gallery-length="2" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content">
Andrew Neil edited London’s Sunday Times for much of the Reagan and Thatcher eras
(PA Archive)
Jonathan Martin, senior columnist for Politico, also responded to Neil’s tweet, writing: “We realise it!”, while former CNN commentator Chris Cizzilla wrote: “We get that!”
Former president Trump soared to victory in the Iowa caucuses, with a projected 51 per cent of the Republican vote.
The Associated Press and news networks called the race shortly after 8.30pm local time, while many counties were still in the midst of caucus meetings.
In an article written for The Daily Mail, Neil argued that Mr Trump’s “runaway victory” meant that the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination “has pretty much ended on the day it began”.
“The scale of Trump’s triumph is historic. Just about everything went right for him,” he wrote, adding: “Whether it’s right for America and the rest of the world is another matter.”
More about Andrew Neil Donald Trump Iowa caucus Ron DeSantis Nikki Haley New Hampshire US election 2024
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 2Ex-Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil faces US backlash over Iowa comment
Ex-Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil faces US backlash over Iowa comment
Andrew Neil edited London’s Sunday Times for much of the Reagan and Thatcher eras
PA Archive
Ex-Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil faces US backlash over Iowa comment
Ex-Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil slapped down for patronising comment about US commentators
PA Archive
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in