--- title: Iowa Caucuses: Donald Trump Leaves Iowa a Loser description: The onetime front runner once called all comers a loser. After Iowa's caucuses, he's now the one wearing that label. canonical: https://time.com/4203728/donald-trump-iowa-loser/ author: Philip Elliott article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-02T04:25:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:41:00.103Z article:section: Politics og:title: Donald Trump Leaves Iowa a Loser og:description: He's called a lot of other people losers. Now he's one of them. og:url: https://time.com/4203728/donald-trump-iowa-loser/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8697b805d84c49/69887bb30b72e382c06e7ee7/donald-trump-iowa-caucus-timepol.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4380 og:image:height: 2464 og:image:alt: GOP Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Holds Iowa Caucus Night Gathering og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Donald Trump Leaves Iowa a Loser twitter:description: He's called a lot of other people losers. Now he's one of them. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0b8697b805d84c49/69887bb30b72e382c06e7ee7/donald-trump-iowa-caucus-timepol.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Donald Trump Leaves Iowa a Loser > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=2434a863-5d55-4150-b1c1-0e64356c51af&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Donald Trump Lose [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Donald Trump Lose](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yI3kIumt.m3u8) (1:28)  _Published 2016-02-02. What It’s Like for Donald Trump to Lose Iowa_  by [Philip Elliott / West Des Moines, Iowa](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / West Des Moines, Iowa Senior Correspondent Feb 2, 2016 4:25 AM UTC What It’s Like for Donald Trump to Lose Iowa  by [Philip Elliott / West Des Moines, Iowa](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / West Des Moines, Iowa Senior Correspondent Feb 2, 2016 4:25 AM UTC Donald Trump, rushing from Iowa a loser late Monday, showed no signs of regret that he campaigned in this deeply conservative state where [evangelicals](http://time.com/4201357/donald-trump-jerry-falwell/) were never a natural fit for the thrice-married New Yorker. Instead, the billionaire real estate mogul said he was looking ahead to New Hampshire. With a typical [fixation on polls](http://time.com/4140934/donald-trump-muslims-polls/), Trump claimed he was 28 points ahead of rivals in that state, where the next primaries take place on Feb. 9\. But Trump was also up in the polls in Iowa heading toward Monday’s caucuses, and still fell in the end. “We finished second. I’m just honored,” Trump said in a three-minute concession speech. It was likely the shortest set of remarks Trump has given in this campaign. “I want to congratulate Ted,” Trump said, nodding to caucus champ Ted Cruz of Texas. He made no mention of Marco Rubio, who came in third but stood as a looming threat.  Iowa Caucus results 2016 Over the weekend, Trump started acknowledging that [wins were not guaranteed](http://time.com/4201287/donald-trump-iowa-loss/). He boasted of having hired the best people and recruiting the best supporters. But in recent days, it seemed to be missing in action. At his campaign rallies, no volunteers manned the doors to follow up with potential supporters. Whereas most campaigns ask attendees to sign supporter cards after events, Trump did not. More than one attendee over the weekend asked reporters if they were with the campaign. They wanted to pledge to caucus. “We love you. We thank you. We will be back, many, many times. In fact, I might come here and buy a farm,” Trump said in a final reminder that his tone was often at odds with the humble Iowans. “On to New Hampshire. So long, everybody.” Trump drew tremendous crowds and unrivaled buzz. But Twitter followers aren’t the same thing as caucusgoers, and Trump came up short in his bid. “We had a great time. We’re going to continue to have a great time,” Trump said, publicly signaling he was still going to try to secure the Republican nomination. That goal, however, just became a lot more difficult. After all, it was Trump who is accustomed to calling his enemies losers — not the other way around. For the first time of the campaign, voters told Trump that he was fired. ## Transcript 94 % for Donald Trump. 23 %. 99 % of the expected vote now in but Ted Cruz is ahead 28 %/ 24 %. Once ahead on the democratic side look at how close it is. 50. 1 %, 49. 2 %. [ APPLAUSE ] We finish second and I wanna tell you something, I'm just honored, I'm really honored and I wanna congratulate Ted. We've had every indication, we're going now on we have a poll where we're 28 points ahead Okay, New Hampshire, we love New Hampshire, we love South Carolina. [ APPLAUSE ] And we're leaving tonight, and tomorrow afternoon we'll be in New Hampshire, and that will be something special. It's gonna be a great week. [ APPLAUSE ] I was sad that Mr Trump did not get first in Iowa. Well, we did our best, and New Hampshire's next, and South Carolina. Boy, if I could meet Donald Trump right now I would tell him to keep up the confidence, and keep telling people the truth. I think he's our hope. You know, like, stuff has really gone down hill lately. And I feel like he's gonna be the one who's gonna get us out of it. Thank you, thank you everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much. 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