Trump projected winner of Iowa caucus, cementing front-runner status

Former President Trump was declared the projected winner of the Iowa caucus 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.

The latest polls heading into the caucus showed Trump was the favorite to win the Iowa caucus and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were battling for second place.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy told his supporters in the homestretch of the Iowa campaign not to trust the latest polls and the mainstream media narrative about the race.

“I think the media has pre-baked a narrative about this race that is disconnected from the reality of where people are on the ground, but does have an effect of shaping what some of those less engaged people who don’t come to events think about the race.”

Former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., dropped out of the presidential race this week.

A Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll released on Saturday showed Trump leading, Haley with 20%, DeSantis with 16% and Ramaswamy with 8%.

Voters in the state braved cold temperatures and snowy conditions to take part in the election.