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  • 24 Nov, 2024

Trump scores major decision triumph

The former president received more votes in the Iowa caucuses than the next two candidates combined.

Former President Donald Trump won the first Republican primary for the 2024 presidential election in a landslide, winning three times as many delegates as his nearest rival and garnering more than 50 percent of the vote.

Trump, who received more than 95 percent of the vote in Monday's Iowa caucuses, secured 51 percent of the electorate and 19 delegates, well ahead of his Republican rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, who had 21.3 percent and, respectively, 19.1%. DeSantis came in second with eight delegates, while Haley won seven delegates.

As the primary drew to a close, President Trump thanked his supporters in Iowa on social media, writing, "I love you!" wrote.

The victory comes on the back of favorable polls, leading the other contenders by nearly 30 points in the NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. In the same poll, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley came in second, followed by current Florida Gov. DeSantis.

Before returning home, Haley quietly criticized Trump, telling his supporters: "If you want to move forward without retaliation, if you want to move forward with hope, attend this convention."

Meanwhile, Republican newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy came in fourth with 7.7% of the vote but failed to secure delegates. Trump's victory in Iowa followed a high-profile campaign in the state and easily surpassed his record in the 2016 primary, which was ultimately won by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. According to the Associated Press, Trump's team "focused on building a sophisticated digital and data operation to regularly communicate with potential supporters."

Iowa, traditionally considered a Republican stronghold, held the nation's first pre-election caucus since 1972, and the results are often interpreted as a sign of how other states can influence elections. November. Candidates are expected to travel to New Hampshire for the next round of voting, and President Trump is expected to hold a rally in New Hampshire after attending a court hearing in New York.

As the 2024 election season begins, the former president has faced numerous criminal charges, including allegations of election interference, a porn star pay freeze, and mishandling of classified material. President Trump has denied all the allegations against him and said they were part of a political "witch hunt" by his Democratic rivals.