Trump takes just seconds to be projected Iowa's GOP caucus winner

That was easy.

President Trump has been projected to win the GOP's Iowa caucus, ABC News and CNN report. That projection came almost immediately after the first competition of the 2020 presidential election began, showing just how easily Trump squashed the idea of a viable primary challenger.

Despite what this easy win might convey, Trump did face Republican primary challengers in former Rep. Mark Sanford, former Rep. Joe Walsh, and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Sanford dropped out of the race in November, but the others have held on despite having no path to the nomination.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Trump came in second place in the Iowa caucuses in 2016, with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) winning the competition by a few percentage points.