After former President Donald Trump claimed he won the state of New Hampshire "three times" after winning in New Hampshire's Republican presidential contest, his 2016 Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded with a simple fact-check.
Trump asserted that he has consistently emerged victorious in New Hampshire, not just in Republican primaries but also in general elections:
“You know we won New Hampshire three times now three. We win it every time. We win the primary. We win the generals. We won it and it’s a very, very special place to me."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
But Trump's assertion is false.
He was defeated in New Hampshire by Clinton in the 2016 general election and by her fellow Democrat, then-candidate Joe Biden, in the 2020 general election, despite winning the Republican primary on both occasions.
Clinton posted the results of 2016 and 2020—in which Trump lost both times.
Trump was harshly criticized for his blatant lie.
Trump's win in New Hampshire brings him closer to a potential rematch with President Biden in November.
Despite his dominant performance, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, his lone remaining competitor, pledged to continue her campaign, saying the race "is far from over."
Haley had banked on the support of the state's substantial independent voter base to propel her to an upset victory, aiming to loosen Trump's firm hold on the Republican Party. In the end, Trump defeated Haley by a margin of 54%-43%, which was a slimmer margin than pre-election polls had predicted. However, Trump's dual wins in both Iowa and New Hampshire make him the first Republican since 1976 to sweep competitive votes in these early nominating contests.
The outcome is likely to intensify calls from some Republicans for Haley to exit the race, allowing the party to unite behind Trump. Her campaign affirmed its commitment to persist until Super Tuesday on March 5, when Republicans in 15 states and one territory cast their votes.
