Trump projected winner of Iowa GOP caucuses, cementing front-runner status | 15 Jan 2024 | Former President Trump was declared the projected winner of the Iowa caucuses on Monday evening, cementing his status as the front runner in the GOP presidential primary election. Multiple news outlets, including The Associated Press and CNN, made the projection with less than 1% of the vote in after the polls closed. "Not a surprise but still, this is the earliest I can remember ever calling such a thing," said CNN anchor Jake Tapper live on-air. Tapper said the projection was based on Trump's "overwhelming lead" in the outlet's entrance poll and "some initial votes" that came in on Monday. Voters in the state braved cold temperatures and snowy conditions to take part in the election.