Donald Trump Makes A Bold Statement About His 2024 Presidential Run
What we know about a potential 2024 Donald Trump campaign doesn't actually amount to all that much, or nothing concrete anyway. Ever since he reluctantly ceded the Oval Office to President Joe Biden — whom Trump still insists stole the election from him, despite exhaustive evidence to the contrary (via the Los Angeles Times) — the former "Apprentice" host has teased the possibility of running again.
But Trump coyly refuses to say either way, even though it's becoming increasingly obvious he is most likely planning to do so. In fact, as the New York Post noted, during a radio interview conducted in 2021, the controversial politician reasoned that only bad news from his doctor would potentially stop him running, and even that seemed like a long shot despite his well-documented health issues (via Vox).
Furthermore, if he wins in 2024, Trump made a startling promise to pardon those involved in the Capitol riots, among other things, per a report in The Washington Post. And, judging by his latest comments, Trump is preparing for that eventuality sooner rather than later.
Donald Trump is apparently ready to roll in 2024
When asked by New York Magazine to clarify his stance once and for all, former President Donald Trump responded, with characteristic opaqueness, "Well, in my own mind, I've already made that decision, so nothing factors in anymore." Trump was speaking from his golf resort in Bedminster, NJ, asserting, "I would say my big decision will be whether I go before or after. You understand what that means?" apparently referencing the upcoming midterm elections.
The controversial politician previously told Fox News he was holding off announcing anything until after they were over. At the time, Trump would only tell the outlet, "I am certainly thinking about it and we'll see. I think a lot of people will be very happy, frankly, with the decision." Now, though, he could be considering revealing his plans beforehand, telling New York there are certain pros to getting people's attention early on — especially if it means other potential candidates pulling out as a result.
According to the former reality star, nobody else is registering with voters and if someone did challenge him for the nomination, they wouldn't get very far since there would be a "backlash" to anybody who isn't Trump. Likewise, he stated firmly, "I feel very confident that, if I decide to run, I'll win." The Washington Post reckons Trump will confirm his 2024 run in September, but insiders countered to the New York Post that this timeline is slightly off.
Who could challenge Trump for the Republican nomination?
The biggest question surrounding a potential 2024 run for Donald Trump, aside from whether it's actually going to happen, is who could potentially steal the Republican nomination from under him. The Hill suggested there are five candidates who could challenge Trump, among them his former VP Mike Pence, but the most promising seems to be Ron DeSantis. He claims to have little interest in running but, tellingly, DeSantis hasn't confirmed he definitely wouldn't either.
Crucially, the Florida governor is popular with Republicans and has plenty of influence within the party, too. He's also emerged as Trump's biggest rival with voters, with Bloomberg referencing a recent New York Times/Siena College poll in particular. Although Trump was still backed by 49 percent of respondents, DeSantis is gaining on him fast, garnering 25 percent. Moreover, a whopping 46 percent confirmed they'd back anyone but Trump, signaling his chokehold on the GOP is loosening.
Younger, more educated voters are especially eager to back other, prospective candidates over Trump. It only took a few hours for the outspoken former leader to publicly denounce the poll as "fake news." He claimed in a statement that the New York Times is known for making things up. Using his trademark capitals, Trump declared succinctly, "THE NEW YORK TIMES IS TRULY THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!"