DONALD TRUMP EASILY WINS IOWA CAUCUSES AS DESANTIS EDGES HALEY FOR SECOND PLACE Trump tanked those who backed him and detailed his plans if he regains the White House
Donald Trump has easily won the Republican party’s Iowa caucuses, according to the latest results.
The voting is the first step in a process that’s likely to see the former president picked as Republican candidate for November’s election.
Mr Trump was overwhelming favourite to win the state and all eyes were on his margin of victory and who finished second.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley were both hoping for a respectable result to position themselves as a credible challenger.
NBC News projects Mr DeSantis has finished just ahead of his rival – but both were well behind the former president who scooped more than 50% of the vote.
Mr Trump had earlier urged supporters to brave temperatures as cold as -30C to vote, joking “even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it”.
Speaking as his victory became clear, he thanked those who backed him and detailed his plans if he regains the White House.
Covering familiar ground, he pledged to stop the “invasion” of migrants at the Mexico border and “drill baby drill” for oil.
He also promised to solve the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine wars “very fast” and repeated his claims that the last election was stolen.
Mr Trump is currently forecast to secure 20 delegates in Iowa, with Ron DeSantis on eight and Nikki Haley seven.
His current share of the overall vote is forecast at 51%, while the Florida governor is on 21% and Ms Haley 19%.
If verified, the result would comfortably be the largest-ever margin of victory in the state.