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Trump supporters in right-wing media crown Trump as GOP nominee after Iowa caucuses victory

Written by Gideon Taaffe

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Former President Donald Trump won the first 2024 GOP presidential nomination contest, the Iowa caucuses, on Monday. The caucuses failed to show any clear challenger to his nomination, and some in right-wing media are declaring the primary over, with some calling on other candidates to drop out.

  • Trump won the Iowa caucuses, the first presidential competition of 2024

    • Trump won the caucuses with 51% of the vote. His two main competitors, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, took around 20% of the vote each. [The New York Times, 1/16/24]
    • Despite Trump’s large margin of victory, the turnout at the caucuses was one of the lowest in years. Only about 14% of eligible voters turned out to vote. [The Wall Street Journal, 1/16/24]
    • There are still many delegates to be won, with less than 2% of the delegates needed to win the GOP nomination coming from Iowa. The last time the eventual GOP nominee won the Iowa caucus was in 2000. [Time, 1/14/24]

  • Right-wing media claimed Trump will win the nomination and demanded other candidates drop out

    • On his show on X (formerly Twitter), Tucker Carlson claimed, “It’s hard to see how he’s not the Republican nominee.” The former Fox host added, “He didn’t just win last night; he triumphed overwhelmingly by a historic margin.” [Twitter/X, Tucker Carlson Uncensored, 1/16/24]
    • On Hannity, Fox regular Newt Gingrich labeled candidates other than Trump “irrelevancies,” saying that Trump “is the nominee. He will win the nomination.” He went on to praise Trump, saying: “Trump is not a candidate. Trump is the leader of a nationwide movement to take power back from the establishment.” [Fox News, Hannity, 1/15/24]
    • Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk mocked DeSantis’ and Haley’s lackluster results and called the primary contest a “charade.” He added that it’s time to “move on to the general.” [Twitter/X, 1/15/24]
    • Far-right failed congressional candidate and self-proclaimed investigative journalist Laura Loomer posted on X: “TIME FOR EVERY GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO DROP OUT TONIGHT AND ENDORSE PRESIDENT TRUMP!!!” [Twitter/X, 1/15/24]
    • Former White House political director Matt Schlapp declared, “The primary is over.” He added, “It’s time to unite around our nominee, President Donald J. Trump.” [Twitter/X, 1/16/24]
    • Right-wing influencer Alex Bruesewitz celebrated on X that there is “NO PATH for the nomination for anyone other than President Trump.” He then called for the “pretenders” to “drop out & endorse Trump.” [Twitter/X, 1/16/24]
    • Conservative influencers and podcasters the Hodgetwins called for Trump’s main opposition to “drop out.” They wrote: “DeSantis and Haley need to drop out now and rally around Trump just like Vivek is doing. If they don’t, their careers are done. Focus on beating the Uniparty and not being a part of it.” [Twitter/X, 1/16/24]
    • Fox News contributor Leo Terrell called for Trump’s competition to drop out. He singled out DeSantis in one post to X, writing, “Drop out Ron!” In another post he made a broader post, “Everyone, drop out!” [Twitter/X, 1/15/24, 1/15/24]
    • Popular right-wing X account Election Wizard posted, “It’s over for DeSantis,” adding, “If he doesn’t concede, then it’s clear he’s a saboteur running a kamikaze campaign against Trump.” [Twitter/X, 1/16/24]