Furious Trump rivals tear into media for calling Iowa caucus results early

Ron DeSantis’ campaign turned down the early call in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, as a series of media organizations announced a victory for Donald Trump within minutes of the start of voting.

It meant the forecast was broadcast before some precincts had even started casting votes.

“Absolutely outrageous that the media would participate in election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans had even had a chance to vote,” said DeSantis campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo.

“The media is in Trump’s thrall and this is the most egregious example yet.”

DeSantis expected to battle former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley for second place.

A spokesperson for the Desantis campaign denounced the early decision

And while Trump was the heavy favorite for overall victory, the speed with which the networks called the race surprised many observers.

The Associated Press, Fox News and CNN all published their predictions about 33 minutes after polls opened, and after only 319 votes had been counted.

They were able to make their early predictions using polling data, asking caucus participants who they planned to support when they arrived.

“I’m in a precinct that hasn’t even voted yet, and the media is trying to make the race about Trump,” Jeremy Redfern, the Florida governor’s press secretary, said on X.

Steve Deace, an Iowa conservative and DeSantis supporter, made the same point.

“People tell me phones got Fox News alerts that Trump won before they even voted,” he wrote.

“Just a criminal level of voter suppression. That network is a crazy cancer. Who needs CNN with ‘friends’ like Fox?’

Other DeSantis supporters said the early call appeared to violate CNN and AP policies, which pledged not to release forecasts before polls ended.

None of that bothered the Trump camp.

Trump posed with son Don Jr. for a screen showing the results

The first caucus results – as of 9 p.m. eastern time – show Trump with a clear lead

Workers count votes during a caucus at Franklin Junior High on January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa

“The people of Iowa sent a clear message tonight: Donald Trump will be the next Republican nominee for president. Now is the time to make him the next president of the United States,” said Alex Pfeiffer, communications director for Make America Great Again Inc.

And campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt even ridiculed Haley for continuing to campaign.

“Nikki Haley still desperately pitching herself to Iowans after the race was called for President Trump in less than 30 minutes is next level CRINGE,” she wrote.

DeSantis had spent much of his campaign betting on a solid showing in the conservative state, where many voters identify as evangelical Christians.

He visited all 99 provinces and a third-place finish could be enough to push him out of the race.

Supporters of former President Donald Trump wait in line in subzero temperatures on Sunday to see the ex-president headline a rally in Indianola, Iowa, ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses

Former President Donald Trump does a dance and wears one of his Trump Caucus Captain hats. The Trump campaign handed out the white and gold hats to their caucus captains, with these individuals making a pitch to voters across the state on caucus night

Against that backdrop, the Trump campaign was eager to turn the screw and crush its rivals.

Shortly before he was declared the winner, Trump gave a speech at a caucus location in Des Moines that looked ahead to his showdown.

‘I would appreciate your vote. I think I deserve it,” he said.

He also used his appearance at the Horizon Events Center in Clive to look ahead to his November showdown with President Joe Biden.

“He is totally destroying our country,” he said. “Three years ago we were a big country and today people laugh at us.”