United States: Donald Trump has won the 2024 Republican primaries, defeating the former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina.
The US media declared Trump is the winner of the state’s GOP primary immediately after polls closed on Saturday. The final results are not out yet, but Trump is leading with 59.7 percent to 39.7 percent of the expected vote counted according to Edison Research.
During an election night party in Columbia, the former president spoke to supporters and promised that if he is re-elected, the US will gain unprecedented respect. The former president, who is facing multiple civil and criminal cases, has managed to maintain his grip on the Republican caucus and has won all state contests so far.
Donald Trump’s victory in South Carolina increases the likelihood of a rematch against President Joe Biden in November. Biden described Trump and his supporters as dangerous outliers last month. The president of the United States, a Democrat, requested support from his party, independents, and “mainstream Republicans” who value US democracy.
Four different criminal indictments have been brought against Trump, two of which are connected to his attempts to void the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden.
On allegations of fabricating company records in relation to hush-money payments, his first criminal trial is set to start in New York City on March 25.
In each case, Trump has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the investigations are part of a politically driven witch hunt.