Donald Trump has declared victory in the Iowa caucuses with a historically strong showing, which could be the biggest victory for a non-incumbent president in the modern era of this contest. In his speech, Trump repeated his anti-immigrant rhetoric, but he also took the time to praise his rivals, Haley, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy, showing a rare bout of graciousness and message discipline. He also praised his wife and all five of his children by name.
The victory for Trump was decisive, with the numbers currently indicating the strongest showing for a non-incumbent in the modern era of the Iowa caucuses. Entrance polls revealed that a majority of caucus goers believed the false claim that President Biden did not win the election legitimately, highlighting the extent to which Trump has reshaped the Republican Party in his image. Not only has he attracted new Republican voters, but he has also convinced Republicans to believe in his ideology, even when it is factually inaccurate.
