GOP presidential candidates get final endorsements on frigid eve of Iowa caucuses

Trump’s embrace of far-right activist Laura Loomer worries his allies

Vaughn Hillyardis reporting from Iowa.

When DeSantis entered a hotel in Iowa on Friday, he was immediately ambushed by a woman who peppered him with questions about when he would “drop out” of the race and whether he has “already wasted enough of people’s money” as she followed him with a camera.

Afterward, the encounter found its way to social media. The woman — far-right social media influencer Laura Loomer — cut a scene in which she said DeSantis “looked petrified,” adding she believed “his soul left his body when he saw me.”

“He’s going to lose,” Loomer, a twice-failed congressional candidate and self-described “proud Islamophobe,” said in a clip recorded outside the hotel. “President Trump is going to kick his a– on Monday, Jan. 15. And that’s it for Ron. You killed your political career and I hope you’re happy. You just got Loomered, b—-.”

Perhaps more notable than the encounter, though, was which of Loomer’s biggest fans quickly promoted it on social media; Trump plugged the video on his Truth Social account yesterday. It was just the latest in a series of promotions and moments of praise Trump has offered Loomer during the campaign, and it has some allies and advisers worried that he’s giving a figure they see as a fringe, far-right activist too close an embrace — one that could come back to bite him in a general election campaign.

Read the full story here.

Sen. Joni Ernst calls Nikki Haley ‘a dear friend’ and ‘inspiring leader’ at campaign event

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, introduced Nikki Haley at a “commit to caucus” event at Jethro’s BBQ in Ames this afternoon — Haley’s first in-person event of the day after her town hall in Dubuque had to be done over the phone because of the weather. 

While Ernst refused in a “Meet the Press” interview this morning to say which candidate she was supporting, at the event she called Haley “a dear friend” and “inspiring leader” and touted how her foreign policy experience differentiates her from the rest of the GOP field. 

“We see a difference when it comes to those that have the foreign policy experience and those that do not,” Ernst said. 

Haley touted her general election electability, noting that she has fared better against Biden than Trump and DeSantis in polling on hypothetical general-election matchups, and she said “chaos follows” Trump. 

Show more

Biden is heading to Philly … again

Biden tomorrow will make his third trip to the battleground state of Pennsylvania this year, participating in a service event for Martin Luther King Day at Philabundance, a food bank in South Philly, where he also volunteered in 2021 and 2022.

In 2023, Biden made seven official visits to Philadelphia, which included two campaign stops. Pennsylvania has political but also personal importance to Biden. During his visit to Allentown last week, he noted to reporters, “We’re almost in heaven. We’re almost in Scranton,” referring to his boyhood hometown.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is a member of the Biden campaign’s national advisory board, told NBC News at a Biden event in Valley Forge this month: “I think the president is going all across the country. But there’s no denying that Pennsylvania is kind of the swingiest of all swing states, and I don’t think it’s a stretch to say as Pennsylvania goes, so will go the outcome of this presidential election.

“We don’t know that for sure, but I think history would suggest that,” he said. “So I’m glad he’s spending time here. I’m glad he’s focused on freedom and democracy, and I’ll welcome the president back any time.”

During Biden’s visit to Allentown, Shapiro told reporters: “I think it is important to obviously be showing up in towns like Emmaus, making sure folks know they’re not forgotten, highlighting the important work the president’s done to reduce costs and invest in infrastructure and, of course, prosecuting the case against Donald Trump on democracy and freedom.

“I think Pennsylvanians have clearly shown that they value real freedom, the freedom of women to be able to make decisions over their own body, the freedom for your kids to be able to read the books that you want them to read, the freedom to be able to marry who you love and the freedom to not only cast your vote but have your vote count for the person that you support,” he continued. “Donald Trump represents a threat to all of those freedoms, and I think the president needs to continue to make the case on how he’s going to protect real freedom, as he’s begun to do here this year.”

Haley calls Perry High School principal a ‘hero’

Haley called Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger a “hero” on X, reacting to the news of his death from injuries he sustained in the mass shooting at his school this month.

“Heartbreaking news out of Perry this morning,” Haley said. “Principal Marburger was a hero who dedicated himself to setting his students up for success and ultimately gave his life to protect them. Rest in peace.”

Haley calls DeSantis ‘invisible’ in N.H. and S.C. and talks about Trump’s legal woes 

Ali Vitaliis reporting from Iowa

Haley called out DeSantis as “invisible” in the coming early primary states — including South Carolina, where he said he plans to head next after Iowa, instead of New Hampshire — and also said she’s “glad” she doesn’t have to deal with Trump’s legal problems. 

“He’s in fourth and fifth place in both of those,” Haley said of DeSantis in a pull-aside conversation backstage in Ames. “I mean, I welcome him to South Carolina. But we’re headed to New Hampshire. That’s the next state that votes.”

Haley’s team is feeling bullish about its chances in the Granite State, but, she added, she’s playing the full early-state map.

“We’re not picking and choosing,” Haley said, adding that DeSantis’ campaign “has done what their campaign does. Ours has been different. Ours has been efficient. It’s been effective.”

Show more

DeSantis on polling: ‘If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, every day would be Christmas’

DeSantis earlier wrapped up a meet-and-greet with about 100 potential caucusgoers in Dubuque, his first event of the day, where he delivered his usual stump speech, touting his legislative achievements in Florida, chiding Republicans for “not getting things done” and pitching himself as the best candidate to “beat Democrats.”

DeSantis predicted “significantly less” people might participate in the caucuses, most likely because of the weather, and encouraged his supporters to ignore the media and turn out. Answering questions from the audience, he accused Biden of facilitating unrest in the Middle East due to “bad policies there” before delving into remarks on immigration, Social Security and Medicare, abortion policy and antisemitism.

In a brief gaggle after the event, DeSantis told reporters that he does not take attacks from Trump personally because he figures the only thing Trump values is loyalty.

Show more

Ramaswamy says Iowans need to ‘strike’ at what he sees as the media’s narrative of him tomorrow

During his second stop of the day, Vivek Ramaswamy spoke to what looked like about 150 people packed into a medium-size restaurant in Ames. He spoke a lot about the weather tomorrow night and told people to “prove the media wrong” and come out to “strike” at the narrative.

Two young people stood up to ask why he wants to change the voting age to 25 when he also talks about getting young people to rally around him. Ramaswamy responded that he thinks more people need to learn about this country from a young age and take a civics test.

A few people in attendance were wearing “SAVE TRUMP VOTE VIVEK” T-shirts with Trump’s mug shot on them, which had provoked the Trump campaign’s ire.

Trump’s tumultuous rally

Trump’s one and only rally in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses was full of commotion — an onstage endorsement from North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, two interruptions from climate protesters, ramped-up attacks on Haley, auctioneering from former Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., and more.

At the top of his remarks, Trump commented on the large crowd despite the inclement weather. “We have a lot of people here. If this is any indication, the storm has had zero affect,” he said.

Midway through Trump’s remarks, he brought Burgum and his wife onstage to give him their endorsement. Burgum’s surprise endorsement was initially drowned out by a climate protester, but he went on to say he would be the first 2024 presidential primary candidate to endorse Trump.

This afternoon, Trump’s attacks on Haley weren’t necessarily sharpened, but he did spend much more time talking about her over DeSantis and Biden, once again trying to delegitimatize what he mockingly calls the “Haley surge.”

“I understand her very well, better than anybody,” Trump said. “By the way, she’s not up to the job, OK, I can tell you. I don’t want to be mean.”

Trump was interrupted twice this afternoon by protesters, first by three young people and, a few minutes later, by a lingering fourth. Both protests were affiliated with the Sunrise Movement, the executive director of the organization confirmed to NBC News.

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio endorses Trump

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., endorsed Trump in a post on X praising him.

“When Trump was in WH I achieved major policies I had worked on for years (like expanded Child Tax Credit & tough sanctions on regime in Cuba & Venezuela) because we had a President who didn’t cave to special interests or let bureaucrats block us,” he wrote.

“I support Trump because that kind of leadership is the ONLY way we will get the extraordinary actions needed to fix the disaster Biden has created,” he added. “It’s time to get on with the work of beating Biden & saving America!”

Rubio ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP presidential primaries. They exchanged a series of attacks on the campaign trail. But he later expressed regret for having lobbed insults at Trump, saying it may have backfired in his efforts to acquire more delegates.

NBC News spent a week crisscrossing Iowa, talking to Republican caucusgoers. Here’s what we found.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Much like the Republican presidential candidates, NBC News has spent the past week trekking more than 500 miles across the state of Iowa talking to caucusgoers in key counties.

From the ultraconservative northwest part of the state to the suburbs outside of Des Moines, support for the front-runner Donald Trump is largely unwavering — even among those who didn’t back him in 2016, including Ernie Rudolph.

Rudolph says other candidates are making promises that Trump has already delivered on.

“I hear them say, ‘Well we’re gonna secure the border.’ Well, Trump did that. ‘We’re gonna fix the economy.’ Well, Trump did that,” Rudolph, who backed Rick Santorum in 2016, said over coffee at the Machine Shed in Urbandale.

Show more

Former Arkansas governor and GOP hopeful Asa Hutchinson showed no signs of dropping out of the presidential race while in Ames, Iowa. Hutchinson told NBC News’ Ali Vitali that he’s got his plane ticket for the New Hampshire primary despite his low polling in Iowa.

Iowa principal who risked his life to protect students during mass shooting has died

The principal of Perry High School has died from injuries sustained during the mass shooting that took place earlier this month, according to a relative who posted the news on a GoFundMe page created to assist with his medical costs.

Dan Marburger, who was principal of the school since 1995, put himself in harm’s way to protect students and faculty during the shooting.

“He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever,” his relative said in a comment on the fundraising website.

Marburger was among the three staff members and four students who were injured when a 17-year-old student opened fire at the school.

Marburger tried to calm down the shooter and “distract him” so students could flee, according to a Facebook post from his daughter, Claire. He received multiple gunshot wounds.

Show more

Haley plays up femininity, plays down feminism in her 2024 pitch

Ali Vitaliis reporting from Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa — She campaigns in sweaters that declare, “She who dares wins.” She brushes off attacks from her opponents as pettiness from “the fellas.” Her heels, she says, were made for kicking.

But when Nikki Haley asks voters to help her make history, she says it’s not that history.

“Think of the fact that you might be making history in this moment,” the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told Iowa voters in a weekend swing through Cedar Falls ahead of Monday’s first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses. “And I’m not talking about history of a female president. I’m talking about history saying we are going to finally right the ship in America. We’re finally going to get it right.”

It’s a tricky balancing act that may best be understood through the lens of a candidate who has built a cross-party coalition with a range of views on how, if at all, to prioritize her gender.

Read the full story here.

Haley opposes gender-affirming medical procedures before age 18

Nikki Haley said she is against any medical procedures for transgender individuals before the age of 18, but added, “After 18, I’m not going to say anything.”

“You always have to believe in freedom and allowing people to live the life the way they want to live,” she said during a telephone town hall. “And if that’s how they choose and, you know, I don’t think government should have any say in that.”

The comments were in response to a question from a potential caucusgoer, who asked whether she believed a man can become a woman. In his question, the man, who was identified as “John,” referred to Donald Trump’s lack of a direct answer when asked the question by Megyn Kelly in September.

Haley said she “strongly” believes people should not be able to “permanently change their body until they’re 18, and that includes puberty blockers, that includes any sort of hormones that would do that,” as well as gender-affirming surgeries.

Trump campaign texts Iowans urging them to layer up

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign sent a text message blast to Iowans on Sunday advising them on how to dress amid record-cold temperatures in the Hawkeye State.

“Don’t forget to dress VERY warm,” read the mass text message, which included reminders of how the caucusing process operates.

The weather forecast is slated to make Monday’s nominating contest the coldest Iowa caucuses in recorded history.

Why one first-time caucusgoer wants to stop Nikki Haley

It’s not easy to find undecided first-time caucusgoers this late in the process, but they’re still out there.

Brian Shields, who turns 32 on Monday, said he’s going to caucus in West Des Moines to stop one candidate.

“I’m a naval veteran and I don’t want Nikki Haley, that’s for sure,” said Shields, who moved to Iowa from California in 2020. “I have some concerns about getting dragged into yet another pointless war.”

Shields said he likes Vivek Ramaswamy’s fresh takes on politics, but acknowledged the first-time candidate, who ran fourth in a new NBC News Iowa caucus poll released Sunday, “doesn’t really have a snowball’s chance in hell.”

If not Ramaswamy, then he’ll go for former President Donald Trump, he said.

“We lived through a single term of Trump,” Shields said. “The world didn’t burn to the ground.” 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum endorses Trump

INDIANOLA, Iowa — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former Republican presidential candidate, announced his endorsement of Trump at the former president’s rally in Iowa.

“Four years ago, I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City,” he said. “And today I’m here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done and that’s endorse Donald J. Trump.”

Burgum’s endorsement of Trump marks a reversal from his past criticism of the former president. In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” last year, the North Dakota governor said he doesn’t think he would do business with Trump, saying, “I just think that it’s important that you’re judged by the company that you keep.”

Trump event is interrupted by climate protesters

INDIANOLA, Iowa — As Trump’s rally here got underway, several climate protesters shouted from the crowd, “You took millions!” bringing the event to a halt.

Trump responded, “Go home to Mommy.”

The protesters were then led away.

Aru Shiney-ajay, the executive director of the climate group Sunrise Movement, confirmed the four protestors involved were with the organization.

Protesters from the group also interrupted a campaign event for Vivek Ramaswamy earlier this week and one for Ron DeSantis in Ames last week. One of those protesters at the DeSantis event was swiftly tackled by security.

Ramaswamy supporter says Trump criticism came ‘a little late’

ANKENY, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump’s decision to blast entrepreneuer Vivek Ramaswamy could dent Ramaswamy’s standing ahead of the Iowa caucuses. But it hasn’t swayed Jaqueline Rikena, who braved the subzero temperatures to see Ramaswamy speak at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria on Sunday morning.

“It’s a little late,” said Rikena, 58 of West Des Moines, who was sporting a Ramaswamy campaign button. She caucused for Trump in 2016 and 2020, and she was undecided between Trump and Ramaswamy a few months ago. But she said she ultimately decided to back Ramaswamy because he has clear plans and advocates cutting government agencies, and because of his younger age.

 “I want somebody who has better days ahead of them than behind them,” said Rikena, who was sporting a Ramaswamy campaign button. She believes Trump is targeting Ramaswamy “because people are jumping from being a supporter to where I am.”

Ramaswamy has said that he can still win the Iowa caucuses, despite recent polling showing him with low levels of support. Just 8% of likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers say in the latest NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll that Ramaswamy is their first-choice candidate for president.

House Republicans to issue new subpoenas for Hunter Biden in coming weeks

House Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees said Sunday that they will issue new subpoenas for President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden after his lawyer said he would comply with a congressional subpoena if the lawmakers issue a “new proper” one.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, indicated that new subpoenas to Hunter Biden would be issued in the coming weeks in a letter to Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell on Sunday.

Comer and Jordan maintained that their initial subpoenas requesting his deposition behind closed doors are “lawful and legally enforceable” and again criticized his defiance of the subpoenas. Hunter Biden’s legal team had asserted that their client would only testify in a public setting. On the day he was scheduled to appear for a closed-door deposition last month, Hunter Biden instead delivered public remarks in front of the Capitol, taking no questions.

Read the full story here.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan endorses Haley: She’s ‘got all the momentum’

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, an outspoken Trump critic, announced his endorsement of Haley this morning.

During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Hogan argued that Haley is the GOP’s best chance to win in the general election in November and that she has all the momentum behind her right now.

Hogan acknowledged that Trump is the front-runner, but noted that winners of the Iowa caucuses in the past two decades did not win the GOP nomination.

“So it’s really about the fight for second place,” he said, adding that DeSantis “put all the marbles” on Iowa with the time and money he has spent campaigning in the state but is “going in the wrong direction.”

“I think Nikki Haley’s got all the momentum. What this race is really all about is to try to nominate the strongest possible nominee for November,” he added. “I’m convinced that the momentum is with Nikki Haley, that she has the potential of moving into second place, although it’d be a distant second place, which gives her momentum heading into New Hampshire, where she’s only 7 points down, and I think that’s a real possibility.”

Show more

GOP Sen. Joni Ernst faults Trump for Jan. 6 ‘hostages’ remarks

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, criticized former President Donald Trump on Sunday for his use of the word “hostages” to describe his supporters who were imprisoned in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, saying there’s “no comparison” between their incarceration and the plight of those taken hostage by Hamas after the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

At an event in Iowa last week, Trump said President Joe Biden “ought to release the J6 hostages. They’ve suffered,” using the abbreviation for Jan. 6. “I call them hostages,” he said. “Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages. Release the J6 hostages, Joe. Release them, Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe.”

On NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, moderator Kristen Welker asked Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who recently traveled to the Middle East with other lawmakers as part of efforts to secure the release of remaining American hostages, whether the former president’s characterization of the Jan. 6 rioters bothers her.

Show more

With one day until the Iowa caucuses, NBC News Chief Political Analyst Chuck Todd discusses the possible outcomes and explores what a strong second-place showing would mean for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst doesn’t rule out endorsing Trump, but calls Nikki Haley ‘a great candidate’ 

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, declined on Sunday to endorse a Republican presidential candidate a day before the Iowa caucuses, but said she would not rule out backing former President Donald Trump if he wins in the state.

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Ernst also said when asked about former United Nations Amb. Nikki Haley’s favorable polling in a general election matchup against Biden that Haley is “a great candidate” and has experience on key issues that could resonate with Iowa Republicans.

Trump has a nearly 30-point lead in the final NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll before Monday’s caucuses. The poll also shows Haley narrowly ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with 20% versus his 16%.

“Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker asked Ernst about her response to recent polling.

“In our poll [Haley] comes in second place,” Welker said. “But if you look at the polls overall, she does best against President Biden in a general election campaign. Former President Trump is tied effectively with President Biden. If Republicans want to win back the White House, is Nikki Haley your best bet?”

Show more

Poll: Nearly half of Haley’s Iowa backers say they’ll vote for Biden over Trump

DES MOINES, Iowa — Most likely Republican Iowa caucusgoers say they’ll vote for former President Donald Trump in the general election if he’s the GOP nominee, regardless of the candidate they’re supporting on caucus night.

That is, except supporters of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, with nearly half of them — 43% — saying they’d vote for Democratic President Joe Biden over Trump.

These new findings from the latest NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of Iowa further illustrate the degree to which Haley is bringing in support from independents, Democrats and Republicans who have been uneasy with Trump’s takeover of the GOP. Fully half of her Iowa caucus supporters are independents or crossover Democrats, according to the survey results. Overall, Haley took 20% for second place in the survey, compared to 48% for Trump.

The poll also shows three-quarters of caucusgoers believing Trump can defeat Biden despite the former president’s legal challenges. But again, a majority of Haley’s supporters think it will be nearly impossible for Trump to win.

Show more

First-time Iowa caucusgoers could fuel a big win for Trump

Former President Donald Trump isn’t just looking to win Iowa’s GOP caucuses on Monday. He’s looking for a big win.

For that, he’ll need supporters like Gene Pinegar to show up. Pinegar, a 72 year-old veteran from Marshall County, has never attended a Republican caucus before. A self-described independent, he registered with the Republican Party just so he can participate this year and support the former president.

“Donald Trump deserves me going, with all the crap that the Democrats put him through,” Pinegar told NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday morning. “You know, I can stand up for him, too.”

A new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of likely Iowa caucusgoers released Saturday finds Trump dominating among first-time caucusgoers, with 56% saying he is their first-choice candidate.

Show more

Final Iowa poll: Trump maintains dominant lead before caucuses

DES MOINES, Iowa — Boosted by his standing with evangelical Christians, first-time caucusgoers and registered Republicans, former President Donald Trump holds a nearly 30-point lead in the final NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll before Monday’s GOP caucuses.

The poll also finds Trump enjoying the backing of the most enthusiastic and committed likely caucusgoers, which could be crucial as the state grapples with subzero temperatures and even colder wind chills on caucus night.

“I know there’s a lot of controversy on him, but I just feel like he’s the man for the job right now,” said 34-year-old poll respondent Owen Monds of Des Moines, who said he’s caucusing for Trump. “You know, I don’t feel like anybody else who’s running is really qualified like he is.”

The poll shows former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley narrowly edging past Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place, although the gap is within the poll’s margin of error.

Show more