United States: Mr. Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, won the Iowa caucuses handily, solidifying his position as the front-runner for the Republican nomination to win the White House again in 2024.
Mr. Trump easily defeated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US Ambassador to the UN, Ms. Nikki Haley, moving him one step closer to securing a third consecutive nomination for president.
Provisional tallies indicated that Mr. Trump had won at least 20 of the 40 delegates, with Mr. DeSantis taking eight and Ms. Haley receiving seven. US media outlets called the state-wide contest approximately half an hour after the polls opened.
The founder of a biotech startup, Mr. Vivek Ramaswamy, who received two delegates, declared he was dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump as soon as the results were in.
Mr. Trump’s resounding win indicates that he will continue to rule the Republican Party despite his mounting legal problems, which include four criminal indictments.
Trump is scheduled to appear in court in New York on Tuesday, where a jury will deliberate whether to award additional damages to a writer who was awarded $5 million by the jury for defamation and sexual assault.
Republicans continue to support Mr. Trump despite his legal troubles, as many believe that the cases against him are politically motivated.
Mr. George W. Bush was the last Republican presidential candidate to win Iowa in 2000, and the state has a mixed history of foretelling the eventual nominee.
However, the predominantly rural Midwestern state serves as a crucial launching pad for contenders vying for delegates in South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire.
Despite the extremely cold weather, Iowans turned out to cast their first ballots in the 2024 presidential race at over 1,600 schools, community centers, and other locations, as per the statement.
TRENDING | Trump accuses judge & Letitia James as fraud trial ends
