Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he will run for the White House again in 2024.
Trump’s third bid for the presidency comes after disappointing midterm election results for the Republican Party.
Democrats retained control of the U.S. Senate, but Republicans will likely have a majority in the House.
“America’s come back starts right now,” Trump said. “In two years, the Biden administration has destroyed the American economy. We will restore the fabric of this nation.
“Just as I promised you in 2016, I am your voice,” the billionaire businessman said. “We have not reached the glory of what this great nation can be.”
The launch at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, also came amid the rising star of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who easily won reelection and emerged as an alternative to Trump. Other possible Republican candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence.
“We do not have to endure what has taken place in Washington, D.C,” Trump said. “From now until Election Day in 2024, I will fight as no one has ever fought before. We will defeat the radical Democrats who are trying to destroy us like never before.”
Trump claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him in his loss to President Joe Biden. But in the first 30 minutes of his speech, he did not rail against it as he has for the last two years.
“I will make sure Joe Biden does not have four more years. Our country cannot take four years of Joe Biden.”
Earlier Tuesday, Trump filed campaign papers to launch his campaign. Trump’s filing with the Federal Election Commission created the Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Committee.
“I will put America first,” Trump said.
Trump, who is facing a series of criminal investigations since leaving office, would become only the second president in history to serve two non-consecutive terms. The other was Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892.
Several notable public officials reacted to Trump’s news.
U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) commented, “He’s been on the mound and lost three straight games. If we want to start winning, we need someone else on the mound. And we’ve got a very strong bench that can come out. I know, there are some fans that love him. Just like an aging pitcher, they’re always fans that want to keep them there forever. But if you keep losing games, try to put some new players on the field.”
Gov. DeSantis remarked, “At the end of the day, I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night.”
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) similarly added, “Who is the current leader of the Republican Party? Ron DeSantis.”
Vice President Pence predicted, “I think we’ll have better choices in the future. People in this country actually get along pretty well once you get out of politics. And I think they want to see their national leaders start to reflect that same, that same compassion and generosity of spirit. And I think, so in the days ahead, I think there will be better choices.”