Former President Donald Trump celebrates caucus win, thanks endorsers

As Trump took the stage at his watch party in Des Moines following the caucuses, he told the crowd that he was not aware news organizations had called the race in his favor hours earlier.

“I didn’t know they called it early, I thought that they called it at about 10 o’clock,” Trump said.

The former president thanked Iowans for their support of his 2024 bid for the nomination, saying that Iowa results defied what analysts and campaign staff had told him to expect out of the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

“They said, ,well if you win by 12%, that’s a big win. That’s going to be very hard to do,'” Trump said. “Well, I think we’ve more than doubled that, I guess. Tripled that, maybe.”

Trump also thanked his Iowa endorsers, including Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and state Sen. Brad Zaun for their support in his campaign. During his speech, he predicted that Bird will become Iowa governor in the future — a potential slight against current Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who endorsed DeSantis’ presidential campaign.

“She broke away from the pack,” Trump said of Bird. “And she had tremendous courage and it wasn’t easy. In some states, it’s easy. In other states, it’s a little bit more difficult. But we have really the support of the people of Iowa which has been just incredible.”

Darin Davis, precinct captain for Trump in Windsor Heights, came to the watch party after caucusing. His precinct location went for Trump with 48 of the 106 participants caucusing for the former president. Davis said he hopes Trump’s strong performance in the caucuses will lead him to successfully win the nomination — but warned supporters in other early states against being complacent.

“Trump has swept Iowa tonight,” Davis said. “But, you know what, you can’t take anything for granted. Everybody still has to get out and represent and do the right thing.”

Trump plans to head to New Hampshire, holding rallies ahead of the Jan. 23 primary election.

“Now, it’s off to New Hampshire,” Trump told Iowans Monday. “A great place, we won last time. … The people are great. But you know the truth is the people in our country are great. They’re all great. We love Iowa, but they’re all great. They only want to see one thing: They want our country to come back.”

Trump said doubts about his ability to win the Republican presidential nomination against competitors like Haley or DeSantis were dispersing, thanking high-profile endorsers like U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for supporting his campaign. He also thanked North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum who joined him on stage in Des Moines, for endorsing him Sunday. Trump praised Burgum’s 2024 presidential campaign — suspended in December — and said he planned to tap Burgum as a “very important piece of the administration” if he returns to the White House.

“He was outstanding, but the traction is never easy, right? You need controversy for traction. Sometimes this guy is the most solid guy there’s no controversy whatsoever.”