Top Republicans congratulated former President Donald Trump on his Iowa victory, with many urging the party to finish the primaries and unite around him to defeat President Joe Biden in November.
Calling it a “massive Trump victory,” House GOP Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Trump is the party’s nominee and will defeat President Biden “this November to #SaveAmerica.”
“Cue the journo and liberal meltdown,” Ms. Stefanik added.
“The Republican Party is fortunate to have so many good candidates, but for all practical purposes this primary is over,” he said.
Dr. Ben Carson, a former Trump cabinet secretary, says “it is time for the rest of the field” to support former President Trump and concentrate the party’s resources on defeating President Biden “or whoever else the Dems try to sneak in at the last minute.”
Kari Lake, a top Trump surrogate and U.S. Senate candidate for Arizona, shared the same message on X.
“It’s time for this primary to come to an end,” she said. “I urge Republicans to unite around President Trump as our nominee and focus on defeating @JoeBiden.”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich described the results in Iowa as “the people’s victory,” adding that “Trump is the nominee.”
“Get over it. There is no candidacy for number 2,” Mr. Gingrich told Fox News. “Trump is not just a candidate. Trump is the leader of a nationwide movement to take back power from the establishment.”
Donald Trump Jr. offered the same message as other top Republicans shortly after the Iowa caucus.
“Now let’s end this nonsense and go after the insanity that is today’s Democrat Party. Enough is enough! It’s time to put America first for a change,” he said on X.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) echoed those remarks, urging the GOP to “unite” behind him.
House Speaker Congratulates Trump
In a statement published shortly after the Iowa caucus results were announced, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) congratulated former President Trump on his “resounding victory in Iowa.”Mr. Johnson stopped short of urging the party to unite around the Republican frontrunner.
“Congratulations to President Donald Trump for a resounding victory in Iowa! Today, Republican voters turned out amid harsh conditions and showed their resolve to bring an end to the failed economic and open border policies of President Biden,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement on Monday night.
Biden Campaign Fundraising Off Trump Victory
President Biden’s campaign is fundraising off of the GOP frontrunner’s Iowa caucus victory.In an email to supporters soon after the results were announced, President Biden’s reelection team warned that President Trump would engage in “vile attacks, endless lies, and massive spending” if he secured the Republican nomination.
“The Iowa results are in, and it’s clear: Donald Trump is the official frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination,” the email said. “We need to work even harder now.”
Before the caucuses began, President Biden’s campaign announced that it raised $97 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and maintains $117 million cash on hand.
A majority of Republican presidential candidates have not published their fourth-quarter fundraising haul.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley recently announced her campaign raised $24 million in the October-to-December period, with $14.5 million on hand.
“The things that Trump is saying. Trump is saying things that are just off the wall,” President Biden stated. “He’s the most anti-democratic … president in American history. The things he’s saying. And he means them. He’s talking about he’s running to get revenge on people. It’s just outrageous things.”
