It’s time for Americans of all political persuasions to “come together.” Trump explicitly named Democrats and Republicans. It is necessary to “unify the country” and soon “we will unite”, said the Republican after his victory at the Iowa Events Center. Together we can “put the world in order and eliminate the problems, death and destruction we are witnessing.”
The speech continued to contain a unifying message that was uncharacteristic of Trump. He congratulated his opponents on their performance. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis “did very, very well.” The former president emphasized “the good times that Ron, Nikki and all of us had together.”
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How much does Trump hold the Republicans in his hands?
Vivek Ramaswamy was also the target of Trump's embrace. “Vivek did an excellent job,” said the former president. Ramaswamy came in fourth, behind Trump, DeSantis and Haley, with nearly 8%. The praise marked a sharp departure from months of attacks on Haley and DeSantis, as well as recent outbursts against Ramaswamy. “They are very bright and capable people,” Trump said.
“Trump against someone” is a long way off
After the votes were counted, Trump had more than 51 percent. DeSantis got about 21 percent, Haley came in third with 19 percent. Due to Trump's clear role as the front-runner, the focus was on the race for second place. DeSantis narrowly managed to maintain his position as Trump's fiercest opponent. Third place is a setback for Haley and hurts her chances of a surprise victory against Trump in the first open primary in New Hampshire. According to research, this is possible.
Portal/Jeenah Moon Haley did not reach the desired second place
According to CNN, Trump's leadership position is consolidated. Because neither DeSantis nor Haley managed to escape. Republicans would be expecting a “Trump versus someone” duel. But after the Iowa caucuses, that “someone” has yet to emerge. “We’ve withdrawn our ticket from Iowa,” DeSantis tried to reassure his supporters. Haley was also optimistic: “Iowa has made the Republican primary a two-person contest.”
In contrast, Ramaswamy threw in the towel after the primaries. “We didn’t get the surprise we wanted tonight,” he said, urging his supporters to vote for Trump. However, this was to be expected, as Ramaswamy called himself a kind of Trump 2.0 and made no secret of the fact that he would vote for the former president if he left. Trump also showed some sympathy for Ramaswamy. But recently he stepped up the pace and called his competitor a “cheater.”
Speculations on Ramaswamy's future role
After his withdrawal, Ramaswamy is considered a possible candidate for the post of vice president. This is especially because, like Trump, he wants to promote an “America first” agenda, as the “New York Times” writes. Like the former president, Ramaswamy mocked DeSantis and Haley during the campaign. He even called the Republican Party the “party of losers.” Trump also had problems with the party he had already moved to the White House for.
Portal/Sergio Flores Ramaswamy is considered a Trump supporter and could also be a candidate for vice president
Ramaswamy said he was open to running for vice president. “I’m not someone who can represent other people’s beliefs, only my own,” he said. “So if there is a role that I can take on as vice president or some other role, I will evaluate what is best for the future of this country. But my first obligation is the truth.” Ramaswamy fueled conspiracy theories during the election campaign.
Langpaul correspondent on the US area code
Thomas Langpaul reports from Iowa on what the Iowa primary election results mean and what could happen next.
One of Trump's advisers was not very impressed with Ramaswamy as the former president's partner. “It’s pretty safe to say it won’t be Vivek,” Jason Miller, who served as Trump’s 2016 campaign spokesman and senior adviser to his failed 2020 bid, told the New York Post. Trump himself said in the summer of 2023 that Ramaswamy would be a “very good” potential vice presidential candidate.
Sixth Republican duel on TV canceled
A week before the Republican primaries in the US state of New Hampshire, the sixth planned television duel between Republican presidential candidates was canceled by television stations ABC News and WMUR-TV due to a lack of participants.
On Tuesday, Haley refused to participate in future TV duels without contestant Trump. He stayed away from the first five debates, arguing that he did not need to participate because of his high poll numbers. DeSantis quickly responded to Haley's announcement Tuesday, accusing her of merely trying to avoid uncomfortable questions.