It’s Official: Donald Trump Is Returning For The Presidential Race In 2024

As the Republicans head towards the majority in the House of Representatives, former President Donald Trump has made his White House bid for 2024 official.

Speaking from his resort Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump announced his return, saying ‘In order to make America great and glorious again, I am announcing my candidacy for the president of the United States.'

Further, he added that America’s comeback begins now. The paperwork was already completed with the Federal Election Commission before the announcement. 

As per the pollsters, the Republicans haven’t done as well as they would have wanted to.

Many predicted a sweep in both Houses of Congress for the Republicans, but that now looks like a far-fetched possibility.

Trump acknowledged the Republican’s underwhelming performance in the midterms, but justified it by saying that Americans were yet to realise the full extent and gravity of the pain that the nation was going through.

Trump also mentioned China, saying they may have played a role in the outcome of the 2020 elections. 

Trump’s biggest challenge, to begin with, will emerge from the Republican party.

Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida is touted to take on Trump in the primaries that will commence before 2024. Trump, who backed DeSantis’ within the Republican party, was seen downplaying his rival, stating that he would meet the same fate as Jeb Bush, and that ‘Ron DenSanctimonious’ was playing games.

DeSantis’ recent thumping victory in the midterms strengthen his case to lead the Republican party. 

Amongst the voters of the Republican party, DeSantis’ popularity has increased from 8 per cent (of the total surveyed Republican voters) in March 2021 to over 25 per cent in November 2022.

The victory margins also reflect his success. While in 2018, he defeated his rival by less than 35,000 votes, the margin has now increased to over a million in 2022, with close to 60 per cent of the vote share.

However, his hold within the rural, less-educated voters remains weaker than that of his counterpart, Trump. 

While Trump witnessed a few high-profile defeats in the midterms, he also endorsed over 200 candidates for the races to the House, Senate, and for governor positions.

Of the 211 reported seats, 165 seats have already reported a victory for the Republicans. The party has also retained all Republican-leaning Senate seats and equalled Democrats on the toss-up seats.

Even within the party, his approval rating stands at more than 50 per cent, and is no longer dented by the events on the US Capitol in January 2021.