Donald Trumpsays he’s officially running for president in 2024.
After nearly two years of teasing that he plans to seek another term in the White House, Trump announced his campaign at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night.
“America’s comeback starts right now,” the former president said before explaining his priorities for the nation. “We are here tonight to declare that it does not have to be this way.”
Later in his speech, he said, “In order to make America great and glorious again I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States.”
Trump’s early announcement comes amidinvestigations into his conduct on Jan. 6, 2021— when a mob of riotersstormed the U.S. Capitolon his behalf in an attempt to stopJoe Biden’s election victory from being certified — and hishandling of classified documentsafter leaving office.
With numerous criminal and civil investigations in progress, experts and insiders predicted that thetwice-impeached public figurewould ramp up talks of a third presidential campaign in an attempt to distract Americans.They were torn, though, on whether he’d actually follow through.
For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“He fears losing in 2024. He hates being known as a loser,” former national security advisorJohn Boltonpreviously told CBS News. “He’ll talk about it incessantly — he may even announce he’s running — but when it comes down to it he won’t run.”
Donald Trump.Brandon Bell/Getty
The former president has stayed tapped into politics since leaving office, hitting the midterm campaign trail alongside severalcontroversial Republican candidatesthis year.
Republicans' lackluster performance on Nov. 8 — and voters' clear hesitance to support Trump-backed candidates — led members of his own party to request he sit the 2024 election out, or at least wait to make an announcement until after Georgia’s Senate runoff was called.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
“The Republican Party is still Donald Trump’s party, and it’s too late now for GOP leaders to throw him overboard,” Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, tells PEOPLE. “Most of his supporters are loyal to him, not the Republican Party, so if Trump is not the nominee in 2024, he will direct his base to sit home or go elsewhere. And they will.”
source: people.com
