Ron DeSantis’s Cold, Hard Reality
AtlanticJAN 2024
Trump Sees Record Win in Iowa Caucus
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The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
While the first half of 2023 suggested a tight race in Iowa, an exceptionally strong campaign by Trump and his team has resulted in a historic and record-breaking result for the state. As the DeSantis and Haley campaigns continue to flounder, the former president has stayed away from the GOP's string of pointless debates while maintaining a strong and simple message. Trump has dodged every possible Democrat bullet and continues to gather momentum as he eyes a return to the White House.
Anti-Trump narrative
Despite being a state known for its religious affiliations, it is the cult of Trumpism that dangerously threatens US democracy following Iowa's caucus results. As history has shown, however, this outcome — while undoubtedly a victory for Trump — doesn't mean he'll secure the presidential nomination. Faced with a trove of criminal charges and stiff competition from Haley in New Hampshire's primary, the US hasn't yet fallen for Trump's brand of authoritarianism.