Former US President Donald Trump has launched his third bid for the White House, declaring: “America’s comeback starts right now.”
At his Florida estate, he said: “We have to save our country.”
Mr Trump’s announcement comes as some fellow Republicans blame him for the party’s lacklustre performance in last week’s midterm elections.
President Joe Biden, who defeated Mr Trump two years ago, has said he may run for re-election in 2024.
Speaking to an invited crowd from the ballroom of his Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach on Tuesday night, Mr Trump, 76, said: “We are a nation in decline.
“For millions of Americans, the past two years under Joe Biden have been a time of pain, hardship, anxiety and despair.”
He continued: “In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States.”
Shortly before the speech, he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission formally declaring his presidential candidacy and setting up a fundraising account.
Outside Mar-a-Lago, supporters gathered to wave Trump 2024 flags.
Mr Trump’s speech lasted for more than an hour and touched on many of the same themes he had been repeating on stage for months.
These included border security, energy independence and crime, as well as attacks on Mr Biden’s record in office.
His wife, Melania Trump, joined him on stage at the end of the speech. But there were fewer family members present than at some of his past events and Ivanka Trump and Donald Jr did not attend.
Following Mr Trump’s announcement, Ivanka, who had previously served as a senior adviser in her father’s administration, released a statement saying she was taking a step back from politics and would not be involved in the 2024 campaign.
“This time around, I am choosing to prioritise my young children and the private life we are creating as a family,” she wrote.
Nearly 11,000 miles (17,700km) away at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, Mr Biden, 79, was asked whether he had a reaction to Mr Trump’s announcement.
“No, not really,” the Democratic president said. Last week, he was filmed laughing when a reporter suggested Mr Trump’s support base remained strong.
SOURCE: BBC News
Yesssss! Sure the world was a more peaceful place under his reign. And America performed a lot better economically under his America First Agenda.
Why give your hard earned tax payers dollar to corrupt countries like Ukraine and Saint Lucia when all they do is squander their own through every corrupt means possible. I used to think that the SLP government under PJP would have been different than the rest, but I have learnt that they are all the same, squandering the state’s money right under out watchful eyes.
Take St Jude Hospital project for example and the decision to continue with a rundown and dilapidated structure rather than continue with the new and better one. But no! Kickbacks won’t be received because a contract was already awarded to another company for the new building. So they move to the run down structure and starts off by awarding one of their cronies a five million dollar contract to clean and fence. Something that could have been EASILY done for under 2M based on what is being paid to the sub contractors. And guess what – we the masses will have to bear that cost right to the clutches IMF if that trend were to continue. But not for the the crooks – the Excess 3M is shared amongst themselves – corruption in plain sight.
So this is why I love trump and his America First Agenda. And better yet, a politician who kept all his promises!!! Far from a perfect man though. But which one of us is anyway.