Donald Trump achieved a landmark win in the Iowa caucuses this Monday, marking a significant stride in securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and outpacing his rivals. The Iowa caucuses, hosted in various schools, churches, and community centers across the state, saw a high voter turnout despite severe cold and challenging roads.
Trump’s victory margin was about 30 points, surpassing Bob Dole’s 1988 record of nearly 13 points. This achievement prompted President Joe Biden to declare Trump the “clear front runner” in the GOP race on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Reacting to Trump’s win, Biden promptly launched a fundraising effort for his 2023 re-election bid, focusing his message against “extreme MAGA Republicans.” In a post, Biden acknowledged Trump’s Iowa success and framed the upcoming election as a contest between his administration and the MAGA movement.
Trump, in a post-caucus interview with Fox News, expressed feeling “invigorated” and “greatly honored” by his win. He emphasized the importance of this victory in the context of his goals for the country, stressing the need to reverse the country’s trajectory over the past three years.
In a notable development, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who had entered the 2024 race as a political outsider, suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump following the Iowa caucuses. Despite having no prior political experience, Ramaswamy had gained attention and briefly surged in polls due to his popular ideas and support for Trump.
After finishing fourth in the caucuses, Ramaswamy announced the suspension of his campaign and extended his full endorsement to Trump, underlining the former president’s strong position in the race.
Ramaswamy secured approximately 8% of the vote, behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who finished second and third with about 20% each. In contrast, Trump secured over 50% of the vote, a record-breaking performance in a contested caucus.
Ramaswamy, who began his campaign with little recognition, managed to outperform several established Republicans like Chris Christie, Tim Scott, and Mike Pence. His campaign focused on restoring American identity and drastically reducing the federal government’s size. He had attempted to position himself as a younger alternative to Trump, frequently praising him as the “greatest president” and advocating for a candidate with “fresh legs.”