Trump appears with GOP presidential dropouts and bashes Haley after N.H. win
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Former President Trump on Tuesday made modern GOP primary history with back-to-back wins in New Hampshire and Iowa.
The big picture: The first-in-nation primary was former UN ambassador Nikki Haley's best chance to prove she could run a competitive head-to-head race with Trump.
- On the Democratic side, President Biden won via a write-in campaign after not appearing on the ballot, AP projected.
Zoom in: Axios had two reporters on the ground in New Hampshire — Sophia Cai and Alex Thompson — and others filing dispatches from across the U.S.
Editor's note: This story was formerly a live blog and has been updated with developments and background throughout.
Trump branded his post-win remarks as "not your typical victory speech," while angrily making repeated, pointed attacks against Haley, Axios' Erin Doherty writes.
Driving the news: "Let's not have somebody take a victory when she had a very bad night," he said.
- Another target: GOP Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, a sharp Trump critic who endorsed Haley.
"Who the hell was the imposter that went up on the stage before ... and like claimed a victory?" Trump said of Haley, at a point when his projected lead was about ten points.
Between the lines: Trump was joined on stage by former GOP presidential rivals Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, in addition to members of his family.
- Speaking to Scott, a fellow South Carolinian with Haley who recently backed the former president, Trump said: "You must really hate her."
- "I just love you," Scott said in response.
What to watch: The former president also previewed the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary, which Haley signaled during her remarks she is already preparing for.
- "I did hear Nikki say and now it's off to South Carolina. Well, I love South Carolina," he said.
- He twisted the knife, as he's leading in the polls in Haley's home state.
Trump picked up several new endorsements from GOP lawmakers on Tuesday night, including statements by top House Republicans calling on Haley to drop out, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
- "It's now past time for the Republican Party to unite around President Trump," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement.
- House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) released a statement calling for Haley to "suspend her failing campaign and unite behind President Trump."
Zoom out: The campaign chiefs for both House and Senate Republicans also called for the party to coalesce around Trump.
