Trump is back
On Nov. 15, 2022, former President Donald Trump announced his 2024 presidential candidacy. Trump announced in an hour-long speech at his Mar-a-Lago estate where he criticized the Democrats’ politics and made claims for his presidency.
“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump said. “Two years ago, we were a great nation and soon we will be a great nation again. The decline of America is being forced upon us by Biden and the radical left lunatics running our government right in the ground.”
Trump blamed the current administration for destroying the country with its views on immigration and its actions with the economy, along with its weak foreign policy that has caused America to be “embarrassed, humiliated, and weakened for all to see.”
During the speech, Trump made many promises for his presidency ranging from tackling corruption to building more nuclear weapons. Among them was strengthening the economy where he said, “We will launch an all-out campaign to eliminate America’s dependence on China…We will bring our supply chains and manufacturing base back home.” Trump also wants to crack down on drugs, saying, “We’re going to be asking everyone who sells drugs, gets caught selling drugs, to receive the death penalty for their heinous acts because it’s the only way.” Trump defends this policy by saying lots of lives are destroyed by drugs, blaming the lack of security on the southern border for an influx of them.
“When given the choice boldly, clearly, and directly, I believe the American people will overwhelmingly reject the left’s platform of national ruin and they will embrace our platform of national greatness and glory,” said Trump. However, of the 21 House candidates endorsed by Trump in the 2022 midterm election, only seven won.
Trump’s waning popularity shows not only in the 2022 midterms and 2020 election where he lost the popular vote by seven million but among the Republican Party where other Republicans like Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence have made strides to win the Republican presidential candidate nomination.
At a G20 meeting, President Joe Biden was asked if he had a reaction to Trump’s announcement. “Not really,” he said.
On Twitter, politicians gave their reactions to Trump’s announcement.
“We’ve defeated him before. We’ll defeat him again,” wrote Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren.
“Donald Trump running for President again? I was the one walking over broken glass at 4 a.m. after the Jan. 6th insurrection with pages carrying the mahogany boxes of electoral ballots. Democracy prevailed that day. We will not go backward and descend into his chaos again,” wrote Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar.
“President Trump has my full endorsement and my support as our Republican nominee in 2024,” wrote Republican representative Majorie Taylor Greene.
“I’m on his side 100%! President Trump has my complete and total endorsement!!!” wrote Texas congressman Ronny Jackson.
Some Republicans, however, aren’t as excited as their hard-liner counterparts.
“Since 2016, Republicans have done nothing but lose, and Republican voters are paying the price for it. Doubling down on losing isn’t just foolish. It’s a gift to the Democrats. It is time to turn the page. It is time to start winning so we can start governing again,” wrote former Republican Governor Larry Hogan.
“Trump is correct on Biden’s failures, but his self-indulging message promoting anger has not changed. It didn’t work in 2022 and won’t work in 2024,” wrote another former Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson.
The Republican Party is divided on Trump as some feel he isn’t good for the party and it’s time for someone else to have the spotlight, while others support his candidacy.
“Together, we will make America powerful again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America strong again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again, we will make America glorious again, and we will make America great again,” Trump said to roaring applause.