Media Outlets Defend Early Call of Iowa Caucuses for Trump

Despite Criticism, Pundits Argue Early Projections Likely Had Little Impact on Outcome

Media outlets called the Iowa caucuses for former President Trump just over 30 minutes after they began, triggering criticism from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's campaign.
The Associated Press, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all defended their early calls, citing projections from exit polling and early voting totals.
The AP explained that the Iowa caucuses are different from traditional primaries, with no fixed time when all voting ends, allowing for earlier projections.
NewsNation, a cable news network, did not call the race for Trump until 16 minutes after other outlets, emphasizing the importance of the margin of victory.
Despite criticism, political pundits argue that the early projections likely had little impact on the outcome of the caucuses.