After several media outlets called Monday’s Iowa Caucus for former President Donald Trump early in the evening, the second-place candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, called the early decisions “absolutely outrageous.”
The remarks were shared by DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo, who also shared in a statement on X that the media was participating in “election interference by calling the race before tens of thousands of Iowans even had a chance to vote.”
“The media is in the tank for Trump, and this is the most egregious example yet,” Romeo said.
The Associated Press and several other news outlets called the race for Trump shortly after polls in Iowa closed. Projections currently have Trump leading DeSantis, who is leading former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Haley also shared a statement late on Monday criticizing the former president and leading Republican candidate, though she made little mention of DeSantis.
“Our campaign is the last best hope of stopping the Trump-Biden nightmare,” Haley said.
As for Trump, the former president was encouraging his supporters to brave the elements and cast their votes for him on Monday night, saying that they should even go out if they are sick.
“You must go caucus tomorrow,” Trump said at a last-minute campaign rally. “You can’t sit home. If you’re sick as a dog... even if you vote and then pass away, it’s worth it.”
However, after the caucus, Trump was quick to offer a little praise for the two Republicans challenging him for the nominee while speaking to his supporters in Des Moines.
“I want to congratulate Ron (DeSantis) and Nikki (Haley) for having a good, a good time together,” the former president said of his top rivals for the GOP nomination. “We’re all having a good time together. I think they both actually did very well.”
Still, not everyone thinks the former president is having a good time, especially President Joe Biden, who called for support from his followers on Monday after Trump’s declared victory.
“The Iowa results are in, and it’s clear: Donald Trump is the official frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination,” a Biden fundraising appeal read. “We need to work even harder now. If Donald Trump is our opponent, we can expect vile attacks, endless lies, and massive spending.”
Republicans will now look to New Hampshire and South Carolina, where the next caucuses will be held.