NationalWatch

Former President Donald Trump and Republican presidential nomination rival Nikki Haley – and their allies – traded plenty of fire in the closing days leading up to Iowa’s caucuses.

But the verbal crossfire is just an appetizer of things to come as the two candidates resume their battle in New Hampshire ahead of next week’s primary.

Trump, celebrating his landslide victory in Iowa, where he shattered the previous winning margin in a GOP caucus and topped 50% of the vote, complimented Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his victory speech.

“I think they both actually did very well,” Trump said Monday night in Des Moines. “They are very smart people, very capable people.”

IOWA’S OVER – NOW THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY FIGHT TURNS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

But behind the scenes, multiple sources in the former president’s political orbit confirmed to Fox News that Team Trump is preparing to launch broadsides against Haley, the former two-term South Carolina governor who served as U.N. ambassador during the Trump administration. 

HEAD HERE TO SEE HOW MUCH TRUMP WON BY IN IOWA’S REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES

New ads on social media are expected, as first reported by NBC News. Also in the works – direct verbal attacks from the former president, who on Monday charged Haley was “a Globalist RINO” who “can never win in the General Election because she doesn’t have MAGA, and never will!”

Trump, who is the commanding frontrunner for the GOP nomination as he makes his third straight White House run, and his allies for months took aim at DeSantis, who was the clear alternative to the former president for much of last year.

But as Haley gained momentum and caught up with DeSantis in polls for a distant second behind the former president, Trump world started turning its attention to her.

The campaign launched TV ads last month putting Haley in its sights.

Also joining in was MAGA Inc., the Trump-aligned super PAC that has been targeting Haley in recent weeks with TV ads, including one that’s running on New Hampshire airwaves this week that blasts her over the combustible issue of immigration and border security.

On Tuesday, Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller charged in a statement that “Nikki Haley is a fictional character who isn’t ready for the bright lights or the big stage. As folks learn of Haley’s Romneyesque, open border and tax-raising globalist RINO ways, the less likely they are to be supportive.” 

And Karoline Leavitt, a Trump White House veteran and former congressional candidate who came onboard the 2024 campaign this week as a national spokeswoman, argued that Haley “is a tax-raising, open borders globalist who would put China first and America last.”

Haley came in third in Iowa, slightly behind DeSantis. But she’s leagues ahead of DeSantis and narrowing the polling gap with Trump in New Hampshire, a purple state where independent voters play a crucial role in the state’s storied presidential primary.

Haley and her campaign are framing the contest in New Hampshire as a two-candidate race between her and Trump.

“Nikki Haley and Donald Trump are in a dead heat in New Hampshire,” Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas emphasized in a statement to Fox News. 

She noted that Trump is “going to attack her with everything he’s got, and we’re ready for it.”

Those comments are seen as a sign that Haley world is ready to return fire with a counteroffensive against Trump.

Haley herself is turning up the volume, comparing Trump to President Biden in her Iowa caucus night speech on Monday.

“Trump and Biden both lack a vision for our country’s future, because both are consumed by the past, by investigations, by vendetta, by grievances,” she claimed.

And Haley is also getting on-air support from the aligned Stand for America PAC, which is targeting Trump with TV ads in New Hampshire, including one spot that charges the former president’s entire 2024 campaign is “based on revenge.”

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Haley spent much of her time in Iowa taking aim at DeSantis, as they battled for second place. But with the Florida governor in the single digits in New Hampshire, she’s increasingly turning her attention to Trump.

And time is at a premium. If Trump convincingly wins next week’s primary in New Hampshire, many pundits argue it would be game over for Haley and DeSantis.

Veteran Iowa-based Republican strategist Jimmy Centers noted that Trump’s landslide victory in Iowa “speaks to his grip on the party.”

And he emphasized that “if any other candidate wants a shot at slowing him down in this race for the nomination, they need very quick field consolidation. And someone needs to stop him in New Hampshire.”

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

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What’s Happening? 

– STILL GAGGED: Trump loses appeal of gag order in NYAG case

– House panel pauses Hunter contempt vote

– Liberal newspaper flip-flops, urges caution on COVID-style lockdowns

Trump’s Iowa Landslide BURIES Two Campaigns 

Two campaigns weren’t able to survive Trump’s landslide Iowa victory. Trump froze out the presidential ambitions of former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who exited the race shortly after the results of the Iowa caucuses were revealed.

“I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas. My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa,” Hutchinson said in a statement Tuesday after coming in sixth place in the caucuses. “I stand by the campaign I ran. I answered every question, sounded the warning to the GOP about the risks in 2024 and presented hope for our country’s future.”

“It is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight,” Ramaswamy said of his failed race in a caucus-night speech. “As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign.” 

Ramaswamy earned roughly 8% support among caucusgoers, trailing behind both Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (second place) and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (third place), who both took about 20% of the total vote. But Trump shattered caucus records by winning more than 50% of the GOP caucus vote. 

Tales from the Campaign Trail – Iowa Edition

RIVAL BECOMES FRIEND: Trump hints former GOP primary opponent could hold major admin role …Read more

MATTER OF FAITH: MSNBC host takes swipe at evangelicals in Iowa, says Trump is their ‘second coming’ …Read more

TRUMP WEAKENED? Iowa results show ‘weakness of Donald Trump,’ Democrat governor claims …Read more

‘SOUNDED PRESIDENTIAL’: Trump delivers unifying message after landslide caucus victory, receives bipartisan praise …Read more

TALE OF TWO REPUBLICANS: Mike Johnson praises Trump for Iowa victory, while Mitch McConnell remains silent …Read more

FROSTY RECEPTION: Iowa caucuses turnout lowest in years amid frigid temperatures …Read more

TWO MEN DOWN?: Nikki Haley raises eyebrows after saying her third-place finish makes primary a 2-person race …Read more

SO CLOSE: Trump narrowly denied clean sweep of Iowa’s 99 counties by one vote …Read more

JOCKEYING FOR POSITION: This 2024 GOP candidate was targeted by way more attack ads than any other …Read more

NEXT SHOWDOWN: Republican presidential primary battle moves on to New Hampshire after Trump romps in Iowa …Read more

TRUMP IS ‘FORMIDABLE’: David Axelrod denies being ‘pearl clutcher’ on Biden campaign …Read more

‘NOT OUT OF SPITE’: MSNBC refuses to air Trump’s Iowa victory speech live; Maddow says not ‘easy decision’ …Read more

DISMAL DEMS: Trump leads Biden in Georgia poll amid …Read more

NOT UP FOR DEBATE: GOP candidate says no more debates unless Trump or Biden are involved …Read more

‘ONE STEP CLOSER’: Gavin Newsom calls the prospect of Trump returning to the WH ‘terrifying’ after Iowa victory …Read more

White House

‘LET IT GO’: Move on from ‘Bidenomics’ message, former Biden aide tells president’s campaign …Read more

‘CLEAR FRONT RUNNER’: Biden dubs Trump the one to beat after Iowa landslide …Read more

IRANIAN WEAPONS SEIZED: US Navy announces recovery of arms bound for Yemen as two SEALs remain lost …Read more

‘CEASE AND DESIST’: Biden admin threatens Texas over border park seizure …Read more

Capitol Hill

FORCE VOTE: Bernie Sanders to force vote on resolution that could cut off aid to Israel …Read more

NOT SO ANONYMOUS: Hunter Biden’s art dealer contradicts White House statement on first son’s collectors in testimony to Congress …Read more

Across America

MISSISSIPPI MOMS: Southern state unveils app to help pregnant women ahead of pro-life march …Read more

‘FULL BLOWN MELTDOWN’: Black lawmaker shuts down ‘enraged’ protester calling him ‘racist’ during pro-Trump speech …Read more

‘WHAT ARE YOU THINKING’: Georgia DA Fani Willis taking heat for ‘reckless,’ ‘stupid’ alleged relationship with prosecutor in Trump case …Read more

‘SO IS THAT A YES?’: Mayor Johnson dodges questions in interview about whether he will raise taxes to address migrant crisis …Read more

NOT TAKING PART: Supreme Court declines Indiana school’s appeal on transgender bathroom order …Read more

The House Rules Committee will not consider the resolutions to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress as planned on Tuesday amid negotiations between House Republicans and the first son to schedule a deposition. 

The House Rules Committee was set to meet Tuesday afternoon to consider the resolutions that would hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress, setting up the potential for a full vote on the House floor on whether to recommend the first son for prosecution.

The House Oversight Committee and the House Judiciary Committee last week passed resolutions to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. 

But on Friday, Hunter Biden’s attorneys offered to discuss scheduling a new deposition for the first son. Now, House Republicans are in negotiations to do so. 

HUNTER BIDEN LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL ‘COMPLY FOR A HEARING OR DEPOSITION’ IF HOUSE PANELS ISSUE NEW SUBPOENA

“Following an exchange of letters between the parties on January 12 and January 14, staff for the committees and lawyers for Hunter Biden are working to schedule Hunter Biden’s appearance,” a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital. “Negotiations are ongoing this afternoon, and in conjunction with the disruption to member travel and cancelling votes, the House Rules Committee isn’t considering the contempt resolution today to give the attorneys additional time to reach an agreement.”

Hunter Biden, ahead of his subpoenaed deposition on December 13, had offered to testify publicly. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, rejected his request, stressing that the first son would not have special treatment and pointed to the dozens of other witnesses who have appeared, as compelled, for their interviews and depositions. Comer and Jordan vowed to release the transcript of Hunter Biden’s deposition.

The first son, though, defied the subpoena, ignored the offer and delivered a public statement outside the Capitol. At the time, he said his father “was not financially involved in my business.” 

As the House advanced the resolutions to continue to take steps to hold Hunter Biden in contempt, his attorney Abbe Lowell last week asked that the committees issue a new subpoena. 

Lowell penned a letter to the committees on Friday, saying the initial subpoenas were “legally invalid” as they were issued before the full House of Representatives voted to formalize the impeachment inquiry against the president. 

“If you issue a new proper subpoena, now that there is a duly authorized impeachment inquiry, Mr. Biden will comply for a hearing or deposition,” Lowell wrote. “We will accept such a subpoena on Mr. Biden’s behalf.” 

COMER, JORDAN TO ISSUE NEW SUBPOENA FOR HUNTER BIDEN AS DEPOSITION TALKS REIGNITE

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent a letter to Lowell over the weekend stating that they would be willing to subpoena him a second time if that meant his cooperation in their probe.

“The committees welcome Mr. Biden’s newfound willingness to testify in a deposition setting under subpoena,” Comer and Jordan wrote in the letter. 

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“Although the Committee’s subpoenas are lawful and remain legally enforceable, as an accommodation to Mr. Biden and at your request, we are prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden’s appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks.”

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report. 

A federal appeals court has rejected former President Trump’s request to block Special Counsel Jack Smith from accessing his Twitter feed, as part of his election interference case.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington D.C. ruled on the matter and denied further review. The decision comes after an appellate panel had rejected Trump’s original request. 

“Upon consideration of appellant’s petition for rehearing en banc, the response thereto, the amicus curiae brief filed by Electronic Frontier Foundation in support of rehearing en banc, and the absence of a request by any member of the court for a vote, it is ordered that the petition be denied,” the ruling states.

The former president and 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner can now ask the Supreme Court to review the matter. 

Smith plans to use data from the cell phone former President Trump used in his final weeks in office — including data revealing when Trump’s phone was “unlocked and the Twitter application was open” on Jan. 6, 2021.

Unsealed court filings in August showed that Smith’s team obtained location data and draft tweets in addition to the former president’s messages.

Attorneys for the company, now named X Corp., attempted to block and delay the effort in January and February, leading one federal judge to speculate that X owner and one-time CEO Elon Musk was attempting to ally himself with Trump.

The social media giant ultimately lost the struggle, however, and was forced to hand over an extensive list of data related to the “@realdonaldtrump” account, including all tweets “created, drafted, favorited/liked, or retweeted.”

The handover also included searches on the platform surrounding the 2020 election, devices used to log into the account, IP addresses used to log into the account, and a list of associated accounts.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

Former President Trump took a swipe at President Biden after winning the Iowa caucuses on Monday evening, saying the Democrat was the “worst president” ever.

“I don’t want to be overly rough on the president, but I have to say that he is the worst president that we’ve had in the history of our country, he’s destroying our country,” Trump said of Biden after the Republican won 51% of the vote in Iowa.

Trump went on to claim that former President Carter – who is widely criticized for his poor handling of the economy, resulting in high inflation and high unemployment, as well as the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis – was “brilliant by comparison.”

He added: “You know, my wife attended the funeral two months ago of Rosalynn Carter and it was beautiful. And Jimmy Carter was there. And I thought to myself, Jimmy Carter is happy now because he will go down as being a brilliant president by comparison to Joe Biden. He’ll be a brilliant president,” Trump continued. “He’s going to be known as brilliant by comparison.”

BIDEN DECLARES TRUMP THE ‘CLEAR FRONT RUNNER’ IN GOP RACE AFTER IOWA TROUNCING

The comment came after Trump led Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Gov. Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and the other 2024 Republican hopefuls in the country’s first nominating contest. The victory secured Trump the first 20 delegates in the race to become the Republican nominee.

During his speech, the former president also said he would emphasize securing the border. The issue was ranked number one among Iowan voters, even above the economy, which was second.

BIDEN APPROVAL RATING PLUMMETS TO 15-YEAR LOW, POLL FINDS

“We’re going to seal up the border because right now we have an invasion and we have an invasion of millions and millions of people that are coming into our country. I can’t imagine why they think that’s a good thing. It’s a very bad thing,” he said.

Trump then claimed “hundreds and hundreds of terrorists” were coming from over the southern border into the U.S.

“Nobody knows where they are. This is not a good thing. And we’re going to have to deport them,” the Republican said. “We’re going to have a deportation level that we haven’t seen in this country for a long time, since Dwight Eisenhower actually.”

“We have to stop the invasion,” he added.

Trump will now head to New Hampshire, where he will look to continue his success toward securing the Republican nomination.

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“So it’s now off to New Hampshire, a great place,” he said Monday. “We won it last time and we wanted it both times and we love it. The people in our country are great. They are great. They only want to see one thing: they want our country to come back. They’re embarrassed by what’s going on. Our country is left out all over the world. They’re laughing at us, and they want our country to come back.”

He won the state in 2016 and is looking to become just the second Republican ever to win both Iowa and New Hampshire and go on to win the presidency. Ted Cruz narrowly beat Trump in Iowa in 2016, denying him from winning both early states.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom solicited donations for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) following former President Trump’s landslide victory in the Iowa caucuses, calling the prospects of him returning to power “terrifying.”

“A short while ago, Donald Trump won the Iowa Caucus,” Newsom wrote in a campaign email. “He is now one step closer to becoming the Republican nominee and having a chance to return to the White House.”

“Terrifying,” he added. 

TRUMP DELIVERS UNIFYING MESSAGE AFTER LANDSLIDE CAUCUS VICTORY, RECEIVES BIPARTISAN PRAISE

“I want you to think about the way you felt the morning after Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016? Do you remember it?” 

“Now think about the relief you felt when it was clear Joe Biden won in 2020,” he said while expressing that everyone has a role to play to ensure “we are feeling that relief once again.”

Trump won the Iowa caucuses with 51% of the vote, more than doubling the 20% Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis garnered. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley finished third after receiving 19% of the vote, while biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy finished fourth with 7%, leading to him dropping out of the race.

THIS 2024 GOP CANDIDATE WAS TARGETED BY WAY MORE ATTACK ADS THAN ANY OTHER HEADING INTO THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Newsom was not the only prominent Democrat to use Trump’s landslide victory to pull in contributions. On Monday night, President Biden called Trump the clear frontrunner before requesting donations for his campaign. 

“Looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa,” Biden wrote on X shortly after 11 pm. “He’s the clear front runner on the other side at this point.”

“But here’s the thing: this election was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and it’ll be true tomorrow,” he said, adding a donation link. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

Following his win, Trump told Fox News Digital he felt “invigorated” and “greatly honored.”

“We have to get our country back,” he added. “Our country has gone through so many bad things over the last three years, and it is continuing to go through bad things.”

Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

The top two Republicans in Congress had two very different approaches to former President Donald Trump’s commanding victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised the ex-president and said he was key to the GOP winning back the Senate, White House and retaining the House in November.

On the other side of the U.S. Capitol, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is not expected to release a statement, having been silent for most of the 2024 Republican presidential primary so far. 

“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,” Johnson’s statement said. “We appreciate every candidate, volunteer, and voter who braved the elements and participated in the great caucus tradition.”

GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BATTLE MOVES ON TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER TRUMP DOMINATES IN IOWA

“Tonight’s vote was an endorsement of President Trump’s extraordinary record and his ongoing vision to fix our economy, secure our border, and defend the freedoms and values that make America great.”

Trump swept the Iowa caucues with more than 50% of the vote despite spending less time campaigning in the state than his primary opponents. Johnson suggested Monday night that it was time for the GOP to unite around Trump after his “decisive” victory.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE IOWA CAUCUS UPDATES FROM FOX NEWS

“With President Trump in the White House and with Republican Congressional majorities, we will work together to build the wall and end the Biden Border Crisis for good, curb inflation and restore our booming economy, rebuild our military, secure our elections, and create prosperity that will last for generations,” Johnson said.

“His decisive and historic victory tonight should move our Party closer to uniting so we can achieve the ultimate victory in November.”

Earlier this month, Trump scored the endorsement of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., sending him into the Iowa caucuses with the backing of all the senior House GOP leadership. Johnson had endorsed Trump in November.

QUESTIONS SWIRL ABOUT DESANTIS CAMPAIGN AFTER GOVERNOR LANDS SECOND-PLACE FINISH IN IOWA

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It’s a stark contrast with their colleagues in the Senate, where the top two Republicans – McConnell and Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D. – have stayed largely out of the race. 

However, Trump has been endorsed by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the No. 3 Senate Republican, as well as Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., the head of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm.

Fox News Digital has reached out to McConnell’s office for comment.

FIRST ON FOX: One southern state is launching an app to help connect pregnant women and mothers with resources ranging from healthcare and adoption to food assistance and job opportunities.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch — who brought the case to the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade — announced on Tuesday the launch of the Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA) mobile app.

The app is a continuation of a state-run website, launched in October, that has attracted over 7,000 visitors and aims to connect mothers directly to services they need “in three clicks or less.” 

“Our state is blessed with countless public and private resources, but it can be challenging to navigate while also adjusting to a changing family,” Fitch said in a press release. “Whether you are a mother-to-be or a mother of three, MAMA can quickly connect women and their children to the resources they need to thrive, including infant essentials, food, financial assistance, clothing, shelter, job opportunities and childcare.”

PRO-LIFE LEADER ANTICIPATES MAJOR VICTORIES DESPITE RECENT BALLOT INITIATIVES EXPANDING ABORTION ACCESS

The attorney general’s office has added more than 100 new resources to the MAMA service directory. They include public, private and faith-based entities that provide anything from healthcare, insurance, adoption services, food assistance, job training and more. 

The announcement of Mississippi’s MAMA app comes days ahead of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. The theme of the 2024 March for Life is “with every woman, for every child.” It aims to address the confusion and show that being pro-life is not only about political fights without regard to the difficulties of an unplanned pregnancy, according to march organizers.

FORMER TRUMP ADVISER KELLYANNE CONWAY LEADS CHARGE TO OVERHAUL GOP ABORTION STRATEGY, END DEMS’ 2024 ADVANTAGE

The MAMA app divides resources into nine categories, including pregnancy resources like ultrasounds, diaper banks and parenting classes’ health resources like Medicaid enrollment and mental health counseling; adoption services; food help like community kitchens and food banks; resources to find goods like car seats, strollers, diapers and maternity and infant clothing; safety resources like crisis centers, domestic abuse shelters and places to request legal aid; places to apply for financial assistance for rent, transportation and child care costs; child care centers; and even a place to search for job openings and career training.

Mississippi is looking for more non-profits and businesses to add their services to connect with expectant mothers in the state.

The MAMA app is one part of Fitch’s Empowerment Project, which she launched in 2023 to reform state policies to be more family friendly in post-Roe America.

“When the Supreme Court gave us the Dobbs decision, they returned policymaking about very important issues to the people. The task now falls to us, and we must rise to this challenge,” Fitch said after launching the project in 2023.

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The March for Life, which has organized large events in the nation’s capitol since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision effectively legalized abortion in the U.S., will convene this Friday for its 51st march.

Former President Trump praised ex-rival North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on an Iowa stage Monday night, promising him an “important” role in the next administration. 

Trump, who swept all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties during the first in the nation caucuses Monday, has yet to announce his choice of a 2024 running mate. 

“Doug Burgum from North Dakota, the governor and his beautiful wife, Catherine, and he got out of the race,” Trump said following his projected Iowa win, addressing the North Dakota governor on stage beside him. Burgum notably suspended his 2024 campaign in December, just six months after launching his dark horse presidential bid. 

“What people don’t know is that he actually supported me on the other side twice already. Right?” Trump said of Burgum. “That he decided to do it and he was outstanding. But the traction is never easy, right? You need controversy for traction sometimes. And this guy is the most solid guy. There’s no controversy whatsoever. And he’s one of the best governors in our country. And I hope that I’m going to be able to call on him to be a piece of the administration, a very important piece of the administration.” 

TRUMP SAYS HE IS ‘HONORED,’ ‘INVIGORATED’ AFTER WINNING IOWA CAUCUSES: ‘WE WANT TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN’

Burgum, who did not build a substantial base in his own presidential campaign, endorsed Trump on Sunday, as polls indicated Trump would likely dominate in Iowa. 

When Burgum dropped out, he blamed his inability to resonate in the race on the Republican National Committee’s strict requirements to qualify for the debate stage. 

He qualified for the first two GOP debates with the help of a unique fundraising scheme, offering $20 gift cards in exchange for a $1 donation, so he could juice his number of supporters. Despite that strategy, he could not keep up as more donors were required to make the stage for later debates.

Burgum nearly missed the first debate due to an Achilles tendon injury he suffered while playing basketball with aides the night before.

Burgum largely funded his campaign with his own money. Before his time as governor, he was primarily known as a businessman who led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for over $1 billion in 2001. Burgum stayed on as an executive with Microsoft until 2007. He has led other companies in real estate development and venture capital.

NORTH DAKOTA GOV. DOUG BURGUM SUSPENDS REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

He is in his second term as governor and is eligible to seek a third in 2024, though he has not indicated whether he plans to run again.

Trump said during a Fox News town hall last week that he already knew who he would choose as his vice presidential running mate but would not announce the decision yet. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis edged out former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley for second place in Iowa on Monday but trailed Trump by about 30 points. Vivek Ramaswamy, who came in fourth place in Iowa, announced he was suspending his 2024 presidential campaign and is headed to New Hampshire to rally with Trump ahead of the Jan. 23 primary there. 

As speculation swirls, some names floated by Trump supporters for his running mate include Ramaswamy, as well as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. 

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Stefanik notably on Monday called on other GOP 2024 presidential candidates to drop out after the Iowa caucuses to support Trump in the general election.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Democrat Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is claiming that Donald Trump’s performance at the Iowa caucuses is showing the “weakness of Donald Trump.” 

Pritzker, a Biden campaign surrogate, made the remark on MSNBC Monday night as votes were still being counted. Trump ended up winning the contest by a large margin, capturing 51.01% of the votes, followed by Ron DeSantis at 21.23%, Nikki Haley at 19.12% and Vivek Ramaswamy at 7.66%, who later suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump. 

“This is the most famous Republican. He’s the guy who, you know, basically built the modern Republican Party, the MAGA Republican Party that Democrats are running against and half the people in that party didn’t vote for Donald Trump,” Pritzker told MSNBC. 

“So, I think that is telling. It tells you the weakness of Donald Trump and also the opportunity for Democrats, because in the end, look, if the base doesn’t turn out for Donald Trump in the general election enthusiastically, and Democrats turn out its base, this is all about, you know, independents, and independents don’t like Donald Trump,” he added. “So, I think we’re in a pretty good place tonight to see what’s happening on the Republican side.” 

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BATTLE MOVES ON TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER TRUMP ROMPS IN IOWA 

Pritzker then said “If Donald Trump in fact is the winner tonight and able to win in New Hampshire and in South Carolina, probably the race is over, but the truth is all of these candidates are running as sort of mini-me Trump Republicans.” 

Pritzker last year said he would support Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. 

FOX NEWS VOTER ANALYSIS BREAKS DOWN KEY GROUPS THAT PUSHED TRUMP TO VICTORY AT THE IOWA CAUCUSES 

Meanwhile, Biden, in a tweet late last night, described Trump as the “clear front runner” following Iowa. 

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“Looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa. He’s the clear front runner on the other side at this point,” Biden said in a post on X. “But here’s the thing: this election was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and it’ll be true tomorrow.” 

President Biden declared former President Trump the “clear front runner” in the GOP presidential race following Trump’s dominant victory in Iowa Monday night.

Biden was quick to launch a fundraising push based on Trump’s win as well. He went on to attack “extreme MAGA Republicans” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Looks like Donald Trump just won Iowa. He’s the clear front runner on the other side at this point,” Biden wrote.

“But here’s the thing: this election was always going to be you and me vs. extreme MAGA Republicans. It was true yesterday and it’ll be true tomorrow,” he added.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE IOWA CAUCUS UPDATES FROM FOX NEWS

Biden followed up the statement with a request for donations to his 2023 re-election campaign.

DONALD TRUMP, NIKKI HALEY, RON DESANTIS AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY FACE OFF AT IOWA CAUCUSES

Trump said he feels “invigorated” and “greatly honored” after winning the 2024 Iowa caucuses Monday night, telling Fox News Digital that he feels “strong” for our country.

“It really is an honor that, minutes after, they’ve announced I’ve won — against very credible competition — great competition, actually,” Trump said.

He added: “It is a tremendous thing and a tremendous feeling.”

VIVEK RAMASWAMY ENDS PRESIDENTIAL BID FOLLOWING IOWA CAUCUSES

“We have to get our country back,” he told Fox News Digital. “Our country has gone through so many bad things over the last three years and it is continuing to go through bad things.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Votes in Iowa are still being tallied, but Trump has clearly taken the lion’s share of the vote, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis coming in a distant second, followed closely by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished in second place in Iowa on Monday night as the race now shifts to New Hampshire and South Carolina with questions swirling about what the second place finish will mean for his campaign going forward. 

DeSantis outperformed some polling expectations on Monday night finishing at roughly 21% when the Real Clear Politics average of polls showed him at 15.7% before votes were cast. However, Trump won a decisive victory with over 50% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in Iowa Caucus history, in a state where DeSantis had gone “all in” with his campaign’s time and resources.

The DeSantis campaign touted the performance by saying that the Florida governor “earned his ticket out of Iowa.”

Former Ambassador Nikki Haley, who many pundits believed was surging in Iowa and could potentially finish ahead of DeSantis, finished in 3rd place a couple of points behind DeSantis.

WHY IOWA PACKS A MEDIA PUNCH, EVEN THOUGH IT’S SMALL AND UNREPRESENTATIVE

“They threw everything at Ron DeSantis,” a senior DeSantis campaign official told Fox News Digital late Monday night. “They couldn’t kill him. He is not only still standing, but he’s now earned his ticket out of Iowa. This is going to be a long battle ahead, but that is what this campaign is built for. The stakes are too high for this nation and we will not back down.”

During his Monday night speech, DeSantis struck a defiant tone while speaking to his supporters.

“I can tell you, because of your support, in spite of all of that they threw at us, everyone against us, we’ve got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis said.

“This is our responsibility to carry this torch and to preserve this sacred fire of liberty, DeSantis said. “We thank you for your effort. We thank you for your support. You helped us get a ticket punched out of the Hawkeye State. We have a lot of work to do, but I can tell you this as the next President of the United States, I am going to get the job done for this country. I am not going to make any excuses and I guarantee you this. I will not let you down.”

Despite the close 2nd place finish, questions about whether DeSantis has the momentum and funding to compete with Trump in future states are likely to continue. 

Kellyanne Conway, former senior advisor to President Trump, told Fox News before the caucuses on Monday night that DeSantis “should continue on whether he finishes second or third.”

Fox News Chief Political Analyst Brit Hume pointed out that a second place finish in Iowa has historically led to securing the nomination on the GOP side.

“Let’s not forget that second place has led to a lot of people winning the nomination in Iowa, you finish second in Iowa it’s worth something,” Hume said as the results were coming in on Monday night. “There are a lot of places where it wouldn’t be and in the coming races in the future it won’t be as much but out here when you win second you go on and who knows you might win the nomination.”

Some on social media have called for DeSantis, and the other candidates, to drop out of the race given Trump’s dominant and historic victory on Monday night winning by roughly 30 points. 

THIS 2024 GOP CANDIDATE WAS TARGETED BY WAY MORE ATTACK ADS THAN ANY OTHER HEADING INTO THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS

“Deciding to drop out is the hardest decision a presidential candidate can make. It’s deeply personal and emotional, no matter how obvious or rational it seems,” GOP strategist Alex Conant, founding partner at Firehouse Strategies, told Fox News Digital hours before the votes were cast in Iowa on Monday night.  

“If DeSantis does not beat Trump in Iowa tonight, he won’t beat him anywhere and his campaign will be effectively over. But it will be up to him when to drop out, and that’s anyone’s guess.”

DeSantis, who will hold two campaign events in South Carolina on Tuesday before flying to New Hampshire to campaign, has said multiple times that he is staying in the race regardless of Monday’s outcome in Iowa.

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“This campaign is built for the long-haul,” DeSantis Comms Director Andrew Romeo said on January 12. “We intend to compete for every single available delegate in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina and then into March. That begins on Monday’s Iowa Caucus, and the next day we will kick our campaign into overdrive in both South Carolina and New Hampshire.”

“We hope Donald Trump is ready for a long, scrappy campaign as we work to share Ron DeSantis’ vision across America. Game on.”

Because Iowa awards delegates proportionately, all of the top four candidates will receive delegates.

Trump currently holds large leads in the polls in both New Hampshire and South Carolina. The former president, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls, holds a 14 point lead in New Hampshire and a 30 point lead in South Carolina.

The DeSantis campaign has touted his endorsements in Haley’s home state of South Carolina pointing out that he has earned more than she has.

“Despite South Carolina being Nikki Haley’s home state, DeSantis has already built up an impressive grassroots organization,” a campaign spokesperson recently told Fox News Digital. “He has endorsements from 74 current and former elected officials, while Haley has just 14. This includes 19 state legislators for DeSantis, compared to Haley’s 11.”

Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, mixed it up with a heckler while campaigning for former President Trump in Iowa on Monday after the audience member began shouting at him and accusing Trump of being “racist.”

“Tonight, at the Timberline Caucus, as I spoke on behalf of President Trump an enraged man attempted to stop my speech,” Hunt posted on X on Monday night from Iowa. “He shouted Trump was ‘racist.’  You know, the same tired trope we’ve heard over and over again.  

“But on this day, of all days, Martin Luther King Day, the people of Iowa, just like President Trump judge me not by the color of my skin but by the content of my character. The anti-Trump movement is in full blown meltdown.”

In the video of the exchange, an audience member can be heard interrupting Hunt and saying, “How can a Black man do this on Martin Luther King Day?”

TRUMP SAYS HE IS ‘HONORED,’ ‘INVIGORATED’ AFTER WINNING IOWA CAUCUSES: ‘WE WANT TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN’

The man accused Hunt of “degrading himself” and “turning his back” on Black people as he attempted to confront Hunt before being held back by other members of the audience.

The man, who appeared to be African-American like Hunt, was eventually removed from the room by members of the crowd, sparking applause from the audience.

RUBIO BECOMES 2ND FLORIDA SENATOR TO ENDORSE TRUMP OVER DESANTIS

“I come from a district in Houston, Texas that’s a majority white district and I won by 30 points,” Hunt said after the protester was escorted out. “Because on days like this I realize I am literally being judged not by the color of my skin but on the content of my character.”

Hunt added that when he “walks into rooms like this” he doesn’t “see race color or creed” but rather his “fellow Americans.”

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Trump won Monday night’s Iowa Caucus by a commanding margin, beating his closest challenger by almost 30 points as votes continued to roll in after midnight.

EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump said he feels “invigorated” and “greatly honored” after winning the 2024 Iowa caucuses, telling Fox News Digital that he feels “strong” for our country.

Fox News Digital exclusively interviewed the former president and 2024 Republican frontrunner shortly after the Fox News Decision Desk projected that Trump won the Iowa caucuses. 

Trump takes the lion’s share of the state’s 40 delegates in the first-in-the-nation primary contest. The result solidifies his place as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. 

“I feel great,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I am greatly honored by such an early call.”

DONALD TRUMP, NIKKI HALEY, RON DESANTIS AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY FACE OFF AT IOWA CAUCUSES

“It really is an honor that, minutes after, they’ve announced I’ve won—against very credible competition—great competition, actually,” Trump said.

He added: “It is a tremendous thing and a tremendous feeling.”

“We have to get our country back,” he told Fox News Digital. “Our country has gone through so many bad things over the last three years and it is continuing to go through bad things.”

Trump pointed to conflict in the Middle East and “the attack of Israel.” 

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“I feel really invigorated and strong for our country,” he told Fox News Digital. “We want to Make America Great Again—the greatest slogan ever—and the fact is, that’s what we did.”

Trump touted his administration’s success, pointing to U.S. energy independence, the rebuilding of the U.S. military, and “the best economy ever” under his presidency.

“We’re going to quickly do it all again,” he said. “We are going to fix our border and we are going to do it and do it quickly.”

The Fox News Decision Desk projects that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will take second place in the Iowa caucuses.

DeSantis will trail former President Donald Trump by a significant margin, but coming in second may give his campaign a much-needed boost.

DeSantis has edged former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who comes in third, as he tries to make the case that he is the true alternative candidate to Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

TRUMP QUICKLY SECURES VICTORY IN IOWA, OTHERS BATTLE FOR SECOND IN FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING ELECTION

Haley will look to regain support in New Hampshire ahead of its primary next week.

Vivek Ramaswamy placed fourth, and announced he would be suspending his campaign.

The contest between Haley and DeSantis quickly heated up between the two Southern conservatives after entrepreneur Ramaswamy’s rise in the polls fizzled following the first presidential debate. Haley and DeSantis continued to battle in Iowa and elsewhere to convince voters it was a two-candidate race between them and Trump.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY ENDS PRESIDENTIAL BID FOLLOWING IOWA CAUCUSES

It’s unclear what Haley’s path to victory will be considering Trump’s commanding lead in the upcoming New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, although recent polls suggest she stands in a distant second place in both contests ahead of DeSantis.

Ahead of the Fox News Decision Desk second-place call, the DeSantis campaign indicated to Fox News Digital in a statement that the former governor would be pushing ahead in the race for the GOP nomination.

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“They threw everything at Ron DeSantis. They couldn’t kill him. He is not only still standing, but he’s now earned his ticket out of Iowa. This is going to be a long battle ahead, but that is what this campaign is built for. The stakes are too high for this nation, and we will not back down,” a senior DeSantis campaign official said.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis, who was recently criticized for allegedly having an “improper” romantic relationship with a prosecutor, is now being accused of paying one of her attorneys $100 less per hour than her alleged lover, Nathan Wade, according to reports.

The New York Post reported that Wade was billing the DA’s office $250 per hour in November and December 2021, as he worked on the prosecution against former President Donald Trump, who is accused of election interference in 2020. Court records alleged Wade had no experience in state racketeering law.

But another prosecutor on the team, John Floyd, reportedly has considerable knowledge when it comes to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) cases.

GEORGIA DA FANI WILLIS CLAIMS ‘IMPROPER’ RELATIONSHIP ACCUSATIONS ARE BASED ON RACE

Floyd billed $150 per hour during the same months Wade billed $250 per hour, according to a contract obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

Court documents filed earlier this month say Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two went on using funds his firm received for working the case.

The accusation about the difference in pay comes nearly a week after Trump’s co-defendant, Michael Roman, accused Willis and Wade of having an “improper” and “clandestine” affair at the same time appointments were being made for the 2020 election interference case.

TOP TRUMP PROSECUTOR, GEORGIA DA ALLEGED TO BE IN ‘IMPROPER’ ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP: COURT FILING

Roman was a former official on Trump’s 2020 campaign and argued about the integrity of the case being compromised because of the affair, last week in court, asking for the charges against Roman to be dropped.

On Sunday, Willis spoke on the matter at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, claiming she was called out because she is Black.

“They only attacked one,” she said. “First thing they say, ‘oh, she’s gonna play the race card now.’

FORMER COP TARGETS TRUMP, GOP OPPONENTS OVER ‘DISGRACEFUL’ LAW ENFORCEMENT RHETORIC 3 YEARS AFTER JAN 6

“But no God, isn’t it them that’s playing the race card when they only question one,” Willis asked.

While speaking at the church, Willis claimed she treated all three special prosecutors equally, adding she “paid them all the same hourly rate.”

According to the Daily Caller, Anna Cross, the third special prosecutor, was paid $250 per hour in 2022.

HOUSE JUDICIARY INVESTIGATING WHETHER FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ‘COORDINATED’ WITH JAN 6 COMMITTEE

Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, an amount authorized by the district attorney, or Willis in this case.

The filing also calls for the entire district attorney’s office, including Willis and Wade, to be disqualified from prosecuting the case.

Trump was indicted by Willis in August and pleaded not guilty to charges related to allegedly attempting to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, including violation of Georgia’s anti-racketeering law.

Roman, alongside Trump, was hit with a racketeering charge as part of Willis’ case and was charged with seven felony counts last August.

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The Georgia case is one of four pending against Trump; he also faces charges in New York City, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Fox News Digital’s Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.

Temperatures across Iowa plunged below zero degrees on Monday evening as Republican voters trudged to caucus sites to cast the first votes of the 2024 presidential primary elections.

According to Fox Weather data, temperatures in the state’s capital of Des Moines hit 4 degrees below zero and 23 degrees below zero, factoring in wind chill on Monday night. Other cities in Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City and Iowa City, similarly plummeted to freezing-cold temperatures, with Sioux City hitting 26 degrees below zero.

The low temperatures were recorded as Iowa’s Republican caucuses statewide were called to order. The temperatures mean Monday night is the coldest caucus since the state began holding them in 1972, according to Fox Weather.

Some caucus sites were forced to delay proceedings slightly due to the weather.

LIVE BLOG: TRUMP, HALEY, DESANTIS FACE OFF AT IOWA CAUCUSES IN GOP 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

“When it’s that cold, and you’re also talking about things that happen at night, this is not a ‘go out the middle of the day type of thing,'” David Richards, an associate professor and political chair at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, told Fox Weather. “It’ll tend to turn some people off. And I think if you are a more casual participant, you might be turned off by the elements.”

It is unclear how the weather will impact Iowa voters’ decision to attend caucuses or if it will have a broad impact on the results of the election.

YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO THE IOWA CAUCUSES AND WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR

But ahead of the caucus, candidates called for voters to brave the cold weather and make their voices heard.

“I’m asking you to go out, brave the cold and support me in the Iowa Caucus,” Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on X. “You will never have an opportunity to have your vote make more of an impact than you will tonight!”

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Fellow GOP candidate former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley told voters to “layer up” and head to their caucus site.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub

Fox News’ Matteo Cina contributed to this report.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Former President Donald Trump cruised to an easy victory on Monday night in the Iowa caucuses, the lead off contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating calendar.

The Fox News Decision Desk made call for Trump at 8:31pm ET, a half an hour after the caucuses got underway across the Hawkeye State.

The former president’s lightning-fast win in Iowa gives him an early victory in his bid to return to the White House.

Trump made history last year as the first former or current president to be indicted for a crime, but his four indictments, including charges he tried to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, have only fueled his support among Republican voters.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE IOWA CAUCUS UPDATES FROM FOX NEWS

Trump, who narrowly lost the 2016 Iowa caucuses to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, assembled a formidable get-out-the-vote machine in the state over the past year.

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The big questions as Monday night unfolds is whether Trump will capture a majority of the vote in the caucuses, or top the largest previous margin of victory by a Republican presidential candidate in the caucuses.

It is still too early to call whether former ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will win a distant second place behind Trump.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley chose not to answer a question about whether men can become women, instead saying that the government should allow such surgeries for adults, during a town hall Sunday.

Haley, who previously served as United Nations ambassador and governor of South Carolina, appeared to dodge the question from an Iowa voter about transgenderism during the town hall. The Haley campaign held the town hall via teleconference which was held after a blizzard forced it to cancel a planned in-person event in Dubuque, Iowa.

“We shouldn’t have them permanently change their body until they’re 18,” Haley told the voter, according to audio of the event first obtained by the Daily Caller. “After the age of 18, we want to make sure people can live any way they want to live. I don’t think government needs to be in control of anybody’s life. You go live the way you want to live, you should be free to live the way you want to live. And government and everybody else should stay out of your way.”

“I think that, you know, you always have to believe in freedom and allowing people to live life the way they want to live, and if that’s how they choose then, you know, I don’t think government should have any say in that,” the former ambassador continued.

LIVE BLOG: TRUMP, HALEY, DESANTIS FACE OFF AT IOWA CAUCUSES IN GOP 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Haley added that she strongly believed children under the age of 18 years old should not be legally allowed to proceed with any gender surgeries. She noted tattoos are illegal for anyone younger than 18 years old.

She failed, though, to ever say in her answer whether she believed a man could or could not become a woman. 

YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO THE IOWA CAUCUSES AND WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR

Haley’s comments were later highlighted by Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“Nikki Haley dodged the question when she was asked whether a man can become a woman,” Never Back Down said in an X post Monday.

The group added that DeSantis simply answered “no” when asked during a radio interview  last year if a man could become a woman.

Haley’s comments, meanwhile, come ahead of the Iowa caucuses which are slated to take place Monday evening. 

NIKKI HALEY’S CAMPAIGN SPENT THOUSANDS ON LUXURY HOTELS DESPITE CLAIMS IT RUNS ‘A TIGHT SHIP’

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The Haley campaign didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub

Fox News Digital reporter Greg Wehner contributed to this report.