Donald Trump 2024: Presidential news explained, announcement - will he go up against Joe Biden?

Donald Trump launched his candidacy for the 2024 Presidential election amid a series of escalating criminal investigations, including several that could lead to indictments.
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Donald Trump has announced he will run for President in 2024.

The revelation comes just a week after an underwhelming midterm showing for Republicans, and will force the party to decide whether to embrace a candidate whose refusal to accept defeat in 2020 pushed American democracy to the brink.

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“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said to an audience of several hundred supporters, club members and gathered press in a chandeliered ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

He was flanked by more than 30 American flags and banners that read: “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” “America’s comeback starts right now,” he said, formally beginning the 2024 Republican primary - which is how the party chooses its candidate to become President. Trump will likely go up against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who won a comfortable reelection victory last week.

 Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on November 15, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump announced that he was seeking another term in office and officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign.  (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on November 15, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump announced that he was seeking another term in office and officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign.  (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on November 15, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump announced that he was seeking another term in office and officially launched his 2024 presidential campaign. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Trump subject of several investigations

Another campaign is a remarkable turn for any former president, much less one who made history as the first to be impeached twice and whose term ended with his supporters violently storming the US Capitol in a deadly bid to halt the peaceful transition of power on 6 January, 2021.

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Republicans suffer poor midterms campaign

Trump enters the race in a moment of political vulnerability. He hoped to launch his campaign in the wake of resounding GOP midterm victories, fuelled by candidates he elevated during this year’s primaries. Instead, many of those candidates lost, allowing Democrats to keep the Senate and leaving the GOP with a path to only a bare majority in the House.

Far from the undisputed leader of the party, Trump is now facing criticism from some of his own allies, who say it is time for Republicans to look to the future, with Florida Governor DeSantis emerging as an early favourite White House contender.

Donald Trump has warned Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis against running for president in 2024.Donald Trump has warned Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis against running for president in 2024.
Donald Trump has warned Florida’s Governor Ron Desantis against running for president in 2024.

Still, the former president remains deeply popular with the GOP base, even as DeSantis and other Republicans, including former vice president Mike Pence, are taking increasingly public steps toward campaigns of their own, raising the prospect that Trump will have to navigate a competitive GOP primary.

Trump is also launching his candidacy amid a series of escalating criminal investigations, including several that could lead to indictments - such as the FBI probe. But Trump, according to people close to him, has been eager to return to politics and try to halt the rise of other potential challengers.

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Aides have spent the last months readying paperwork, identifying potential staff and sketching out the contours of a campaign that is being modelled on his 2016 operation, when a small clutch of aides zipping between rallies on his private jet defied the odds and defeated far better-funded and more experienced rivals by tapping into deep political fault lines and using shocking statements to drive relentless media attention.

Rioters at the January 6 attack on the US Capitol (Credit: Getty Images)Rioters at the January 6 attack on the US Capitol (Credit: Getty Images)
Rioters at the January 6 attack on the US Capitol (Credit: Getty Images)

Election denier rhetoric

Trump returned to that dark rhetoric in his speech on Tuesday, painting the country under President Joe Biden in apocalyptic terms, describing “blood-soaked streets” in “cesspool cities” and an “invasion” at the border and earning cheers as he vowed to execute those convicted of selling drugs. “We are a nation in decline,” he said. “We are here tonight to declare that it does not have to be this way.”

And while Trump spoke before a crowd of several hundred, notably missing were many longtime supporters including previous campaign managers, aides and his daughter Ivanka, who released a statement saying that she does not plan to be involved in politics. “While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” she said in statement.

Trump’s candidacy poses profound questions about America’s democratic future. The final days of his presidency were consumed by a desperate effort to stay in power, undermining the centuries-old tradition of a peaceful transfer.

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Joe Biden and the Democratic party restricted midterm election losses to just a handful of seats, whereas Barack Obama lost almost 70 in 2010 (Picture: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)Joe Biden and the Democratic party restricted midterm election losses to just a handful of seats, whereas Barack Obama lost almost 70 in 2010 (Picture: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Joe Biden and the Democratic party restricted midterm election losses to just a handful of seats, whereas Barack Obama lost almost 70 in 2010 (Picture: Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

And in the two years since he lost, Trump’s persistent — and baseless — lies about widespread election fraud have eroded confidence in the nation’s political process. Federal and state election officials and Trump’s own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted. The former president’s allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by numerous courts, including by judges Mr Trump appointed.

But that did not stop hundreds of midterm candidates from parroting his lies as they sought to win over his loyal base and score his coveted endorsement. While some Republicans with presidential ambitions have long ruled out running against Mr Trump, others appear ready to challenge him. They include Mr DeSantis, whose commanding re-election as governor last week was a bright spot for Republicans this cycle.

If he is ultimately successful, Mr Trump would be just the second US president in history to serve two non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland’s wins in 1884 and 1892.

Will Joe Biden run?

Ahead of the midterms, with the Democrats expected to lose the House and the Senate, many thought it would push Biden towards turning down running for a second term in 2024. He is about to turn 80 and has low personal popularity ratings.

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However with the Democrats keeping the Senate, and Trump choosing to run again, it would be suprising if Biden turned down the chance to win a second term against his foe from 2020. If he did run, it is almost inconceivable the Democrats would challenge him.

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