Trump Rival’s Campaign Chief Flips Out Over Early Trump Victory Call — NBC Reporter Cheerfully Gets Through It

NBC News reporter Dasha Burns kept it cheerful even as James Uhtmaier — campaign manager for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) — attacked her network and the media for calling the race in former President Donald Trump’s favor just 30 minutes into the caucuses.

Burns covered the 2024 Iowa Caucuses for NBC News NOW Monday night, which saw the race called for Trump by multiple outlets at about 8:30 — before most Iowans had even voted.

A few hours in, Burns interviewed Uhtmaier, who kept going off about the early call as Burns tried to keep the interview on track — and wound up promising there’d be experts along to explain the whole thing:

DASHA BURNS: James. At the end of the day, if he comes in third here, it’s not just whether he wants to stay in for the long haul. There are some practical limitations here. Number one, the money, right. That starts to become a challenge. You you’ve seen how this works, the.

JAMES UHTMAIER: We’ve got a long way to go before votes finish coming in tonight. But I just need people to understand this is a grave concern. This cannot happen in this country! This challenges the very foundation of our democracy to have winners announced before voting! That’s something you see in the Middle East, not the United States of America!

DASHA BURNS: And that’s been a big message from your campaign and from the Never Back Down group supporting you guys tonight. Appreciate your time. Uh, hope you enjoyed–

JAMES UHTMAIER: I think it was results from some sort of survey or something. Not, not even true votes!

DASHA BURNS: Well, no. No, this this was projected based on data and science–

JAMES UHTMAIER: Data and science and not actual election results!

DASHA BURNS: We’ll have some of our experts explain and explain how that was decided–.

JAMES UHTMAIER: Voters decide elections! Voters decode elections!

DASHA BURNS: –And why it was called in the way it was later in the show. But appreciate your insights. And you being with us here tonight on this busy and important night for everybody. Thank you so much, James, I appreciate it.

Watch above via NBC News NOW coverage of the  2024 Iowa Caucuses.

Have a tip for us? tips@mediaite.com