Donald Trump launching White House comeback bid

The former US president is itching to lead the nation again

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Former United States president Donald Trump is expected to officially launch another White House bid on Tuesday, refusing calls from within his own Republican party to fade away after his loyalists underperformed in this year’s midterm elections.

The 76-year-old billionaire, whose 2016 win shocked America and the world, has summoned the press to his Florida mansion for a “very big announcement” at 9 p.m. Tuesday (0200 GMT Wednesday).

“President Trump is going to announce on Tuesday that he’s running for president,” one of his advisors, Jason Miller, said.

Known for his unpredictability, Trump could still change his mind at the last minute, but for months he has barely hidden his desire to vie for the presidency again in 2024.

Delaying the announcement now, as some of his advisors have reportedly suggested to him, would be highly awkward for Trump because he has billed it as “perhaps be the most important speech given in the history of the USA.”

Hurdles

A 2024 White House bid would be Trump’s third presidential campaign and — if he wins his party’s nomination — the fifth national election with him as the Republican Party standard-bearer.

Tuesday’s announcement is widely seen as a way to take the wind out of the sails of potential Republican rivals, namely Ron DeSantis, the freshly-reelected Florida governor and rising star who has also won the backing of Rupert Murdoch’s conservative media empire.

Trump’s new White House pursuit will also be hampered by the multiple investigations into his conduct before, during and after the presidency — which could result in his disqualification.

Trump could still change his mind at the last minute.

Those include allegations of fraud by his family business, his role in the 6 January attack on the US Capitol and his handling of classified documents at his private Florida home, which was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in August.

But the former president is no stranger to scandal and has even survived two impeachments due to his continued Republican support in Congress.

The 2024 election could also prove to be a repeat of 2020, with Biden reaffirming on Wednesday that he intends to stand for reelection.