‘We’ll have better choices’
Trump 2024 run met with dismissals, warnings
The reaction from other potential GOP contenders looking toward 2024 to former President Donald Trump’s announcement of a third campaign for the White House was, by and large, dismissive.
“We need more seriousness, less noise, and leaders who are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood,” former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, the twiceimpeached and doubly-acquitted 45th President said he would seek the nation’s highest office once more in order to “make America great and glorious again.”
Trump’s announcement comes about two years before voters will be asked to decide on the next executive and more than a year ahead of any party primary.
He isn’t the only one interested in the office. Pompeo and Former Vice President Mike Pence were both in New Hampshire this summer to make the early presidential candidate rounds.
Pence told ABC’s David Muir last week that “I think we’ll have better choices (than Trump) in the future.”
“The people of 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 compassion and generosity of spirit,” Pence said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who Trump has labeled “De-Sanctimonious,” said ahead of the former president’s campaign announcement that voters need only look at what happened to Trump backed candidates during the midterms to see what support of or from Trump does for Republican’s electoral chances.
“I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night,” he told reporters at a Tuesday press conference.
He said he isn’t worried about criticism from Trump.
“One of the things I’ve learned in this job is when you’re leading, when you’re getting things done, you take incoming fire, that’s just the nature of it,” he said.
The Biden team was quick to respond to the former president’s announced intentions, releasing an attack ad denouncing Trump and his time in office that aired during his 2024 launch.
“Trump failed America,” the ad says after a minute of Trump footage and news cuts.
But Trump’s announcement should not be taken lightly, according to conservative columnist and editor of the Bulwark, Bill Kristol.
“A plea: Do not underestimate Trump,” he tweeted. “He won the Republican nomination twice and the presidency once. He’s a proven demagogue on the national stage. He’s launching early to stall others’ momentum. He could win the nomination again. He could win the presidency again. I’m alarmed.”