Former President Donald Trump teases a presidential run in 2024 claiming that he could easily win.
The former President has once again suggested a potential run for the White House in 2024, with a Thanksgiving message promising things “will be great again”.
The message, referring to his “Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” campaign slogans from 2016 and 2020, respectively, told Americans “do not worry”.
“A very interesting time in our Country, but do not worry, we will be great again—and we will all do it together,” Trump said in a statement. “America will never fail, and we will never allow it to go in the wrong direction. Too many generations of greatness are counting on us. Enjoy your Thanksgiving knowing that a wonderful future lies ahead!”
The statement by Trump was printed under a logo with five stars and the slogan “Save America; President Donald J. Trump”.
His remarks were among the strongest sign so far of his intention to run in 2024, when he will likely come up against US President Joe Biden.
Neither of the two men has confirmed a 2024 run, although Trump has strongly hinted that he will do so, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested this week it was Biden’s intention to do so as well. Both would be the oldest person elected and inaugurated US president if that happens.
The former president, who continues to make unsubstantiated claims that his defeat in 2020 was down to voter fraud, has dropped several hints that he is planning another run for the White House.
In his recent interview with Fox News, the host asked Trump if he thought there would be an open GOP primary in 2024.
Trump said: “I think if I run, I’ll get it. Look, I have a 94-95 percent—even in the CPAC [Conservative Political Action Conference]—I had a 98 percent approval rating. If I decide to run, I’ll get it easily. Most people said if I run, they won’t run against me. So, I think that’s good.”
Trump has repeatedly said he has approval ratings of about 90 percent in the Republican Party, he has been making this claim since at least 2019 but it is not entirely clear where this figure comes from.
Trump told Fox News he will make a decision on another run after the 2022 midterms.
“I am certainly thinking about it and we’ll see,” he said. “I think a lot of people will be very happy, frankly, with the decision, and probably will announce that after the midterms.”
A poll released last month by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed Biden leading Trump by a slim 2-point margin in a hypothetical 2024 matchup.
An Emerson College poll earlier this month showed Trump narrowly beating Biden in a hypothetical matchup although the result was within the margin of error. Trump won 45% to Biden’s 43%.
However, a number of polls have shown that Trump would indeed win the GOP nomination easily, beating potential challenges from Pence, DeSantis, and others. Another recent poll also indicated that Trump would defeat President Biden in a hypothetical rematch.
Former aides have however suggested he will not run in 2024 because “his fragile ego cannot stand to be considered a two-time loser”, as Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, recently told CNN.
Trump became the only President to be impeached twice after the House of Representatives voted to charge him with incitement of insurrection following the riots at the US Capitol building.
But Trump was cleared in February 2021, leaving him free to run for office again in 2024 if he wishes to.