the former president launches into the race for the White House from Florida

First modification: 11/16/2022 – 10:52

With Cristóbal Vásquez, correspondent in Washington, and David Thompson, special envoy to Mar a Lago

From his Mar a Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump launched his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in 2024. “To make America great and glorious again, I announce my candidacy for the presidency of the United States ”, said the former tenant of the White House.

In his speech that lasted 63 minutes, Trump affirmed that the United States is being destroyed by Joe Biden and the radical left: “But the citizens of our country have not realized the full severity of the pain that our nation is going through,” he stressed.

The former president presented himself as the solution to the supposed crisis that the country is experiencing in international politics, migration, economy, energy, among others. “China, Russia, Iran and North Korea were under control. They respected the United States and honestly they respected me…Ukraine would never have happened if I were the president and even the Democrats admit that,” he said.

“I’ll make sure Joe Biden doesn’t get four more years,” Trump promised, as the president reacted to the announcement with a tweet saying: “Donald Trump failed America.”

Faced with the poor results of the Republican Party in the mid-term elections, Trump said that the candidates he had supported had done well. It should be noted, however, that many leading Republicans like Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania and Governor Larry Hogan from Maryland have said that Trump has cost the Republican Party the last three elections and that it is time to get over it.

“There is no doubt, he will win”

Trump spoke to hundreds of his supporters gathered in a ballroom where dozens of American flags were displayed. The former leader’s speech was broadcast live on US television.

The same message appeared on the T-shirts and flags of the supporters present: Trump 2024. The whole world had been waiting for it for two years, when he announced his candidacy for the next United States presidential election.

For Suzanne, a retiree with a red MAGA cap on her head, “there’s no question, she’s going to win.” Suzanne is convinced that Donald Trump won the last election in 2020.

While he acknowledges that the midterm results were a bit disappointing for Republicans, it was only due to voter fraud, he says, and certainly not Trump.

But many less influential voices among Republicans do not want this third candidacy. Donald Trump would be doomed for many, but Trump remains the most popular figure among the Republican base.

For now, hard-right Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis looks like Trump’s main potential rival in a Republican field that may include former Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

DeSantis, 44, nicknamed “Prude Ron” by Trump, invited “people to check out the scoreboard last Tuesday night,” election day.

In exit polls for this election, 58% of Americans said they viewed Trump unfavorably and 38% favorably.