Former US president Donald Trump decisively won the Iowa caucuses, on Monday, cementing his Republican frontrunner status as he bids to retake the White House in 2024.
Trump secured a third consecutive presidential nomination by defeating former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a widely anticipated election.
Trump won at least 17 out of 40 delegates, with Haley and DeSantis each taking five, according to provisional tallies. The state-wide contest began about 30 minutes after voting began.
“THANK YOU IOWA, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
DeSantis and Haley are aiming for a strong second-place finish to convince donors and supporters of their challenges to Trump.
Trump’s commanding victory points to his continuing dominance over the Republican Party, even as he faces mounting legal woes including four criminal indictments.
