Will Trump run?
The rumors are ricocheting in every direction: Yes way. No way. Now. Never.
The subject? Whether Donald Trump will run for president again in 2024.
Barring a crystal ball, there’s only one way to find out the former POTUS plans for sure. So we again assembled our crack team of Post Pundit Power Rankers and plumbed their ultimate, infallible wisdom for an answer to the question: Will Trump run?
1. Molly Roberts: YES.
He hated the job, but loved the attention. The only way Trump can stop people from saying he’s a loser is to win again—and while he could just claim credit for the victory of someone he anoints, could he really bear the spotlight shining on anyone except him?
2. Eugene Robinson: NO.
Trump will pretend to run, and might even at some point announce that he’s running. But the question is whether he will actually run for president again, and I think not. He won’t risk losing yet again, and besides, being a former president is less hassle and more fun than actually having to pretend to listen to all the boring officials and members of Congress and generals.
3. Gary Abernathy: YES.
Considering the combination of GOP support at both the grass-roots and institutional levels, the fundraising machine at his fingertips and an undiminished ego, it’s nearly impossible to envision a scenario in which Trump chooses not to run again, barring legal or health reasons. 4. Karen Tumulty: YES.
Predicting what Trump will do is always a dicey proposition. But here goes: I think he will run so long as he’s physically able, and is convinced he can win.
5. James Hohmann: NO
Trump cannot lose again if he doesn’t run. My guess is he waits until the last possible moment— maybe the day of the filing deadline for the Iowa caucuses—to announce he’s not going to do it. 6. Megan McArdle: YES.
As of now, I think Trump will run unless force majeure intervenes to stop him—an illness, an indictment.
7. Jonathan Capehart: NO.
Trump won’t run again. Yes, the Queens, N.Y., born builder is driven by spite and vengeance, and snatching the job back from President Biden would be enticing. But Trump would be required to work hard to win a job he actually hated. (Well, he hated everything about the job except certain ceremonial functions and the swank public housing and transportation that came with the gig.) 8. Christine Emba: YES.
Will he run? How could he resist? Trump learned the first time around that a presidential run was a perfect moneymaking opportunity. 9. Jennifer Rubin: YES.
Trump will announce his run if for no other reasons than he craves the limelight and thinks it will be harder for authorities to prosecute an active candidate.
10. E.J. Dionne Jr.: NO.
But what do I know? I’ve been plenty wrong on Trump before. What I have confidence in is his selfishness. I think he will be looking at a very tough path in 2024 and won’t want the hassle. 11. Hugh Hewitt: YES.
I think Trump will run again, time and tides notwithstanding. Competitors compete. Unless a health issue intervenes between now and the Iowa caucuses, I and everyone I speak to who is on the GOP side of the aisle think he will try for the White House again.