Trump Prepares to Launch 2024 White House Run
On the heels of a disappointing midterm election for Republicans and despite advice that he postpone until after the Georgia US Senate runoff in December, former Pres. Donald Trump is expected to announce a third presidential bid on Tuesday night from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Facts
- On the heels of a disappointing midterm election for Republicans and despite advice that he postpone until after the Georgia US Senate runoff in December, former Pres. Donald Trump is expected to announce a third presidential bid on Tuesday night from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
- Though Trump reportedly retains grass-root support from Republicans, some of the party's largest donors have allegedly been meeting with other potential presidential contenders in the wake of multiple failed Trump-endorsed midterm candidates.
- Former GOP Trump allies have also been on record showing opposition to his potential third White House run, with Sen. Lindsay Graham declining to comment until after the Georgia runoff, former Trump White House Press Sec. Kayleigh McEnany suggesting support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Rep. Mo Brooks outright calling him "incompetent."
- While some in the party have expressed concern that the announcement may hurt Republican candidate Herschel Walker in the Georgia runoff, other GOP lawmakers, such as in Utah and Michigan, have openly petitioned for DeSantis.
- Trump has fired back at his detractors, blaming party leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell for the midterm losses and charging DeSantis with being “an average Republican governor with great public relations.”
- Aides say Trump's early announcement is an effort to shift the focus away from the 2022 midterms and toward 2024.
Sources: Guardian, CNN, Business Insider, Independent, and Wall Street Journal.
Narratives
- Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by American Thinker. The elitist GOP establishment is turning its back on Trump in favor of a more gentle nominee at a time when a strong candidate like Trump is needed. The former president's so-called egotistic manner isn't bringing the party down; it's what saved it from collapse in the first place and is still needed in the future.
- Republican narrative, as provided by NY Post. Let's not forget that Trump has never won a majority of national support, not even in 2016. After his abysmal showcase of midterm endorsements, followed by his attack on DeSantis, he's no longer the party's leader. Though it would be very difficult for the GOP to kick him to the curb, Republican voters can — and will — do just that when it's time to decide on their 2024 candidate.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Daily Kos. After a predicted "Red Wave" failed to transpire in the recent midterms, the GOP has turned to vicious infighting in an attempt to saddle someone with the blame — and Trump is the perfect candidate to take on this role. Despite a tight grip on the GOP for the last six years, the party — tipped into chaos — is now trying to disentangle from the former president, but it won't be enough to escape the impending Republican civil war.
