Trump Expresses Intention to Run Again in 2024 Presidential Election to Close Associates

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 21st (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated to close associates that he may announce his bid for the 2024 presidential election within this year.

WP reported that although President Trump continues to claim a false victory in the election, behind the scenes he has been discussing a completely different next step?running again in the 2024 presidential election?through private meetings and phone calls. He is said to be acknowledging the reality that he is destined to leave the office in January next year and is seriously contemplating life after leaving the White House.

In particular, President Trump reportedly told his aides that he wants to remain a powerful figure in politics and the media. The possibility of a re-election bid is being considered as part of this continuation. WP analyzed that his refusal to accept the current election results and ongoing lawsuits are strategies to assert his presence.

Additionally, an aide who recently spoke with President Trump told WP that Trump plans to announce a new election campaign within three weeks. He also said that Trump wants to act quickly to prevent the rise of potential contenders.

The potential contenders that President Trump wants to suppress include Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, all of whom served in the Trump administration, according to this aide.

WP analyzed that if President Trump officially declares his re-election bid within this year, a potential rematch between him and President-elect Joe Biden could be set up even before Biden’s inauguration.

However, other close aides said that, as with other issues, President Trump frequently changes his stance on running again and has not yet made a definite decision. Regardless of whether he runs, WP analyzed that unlike previous presidents, Trump is likely to remain actively involved in politics to maintain influence within the party after leaving office.

There is also talk among aides about the possibility that President Trump will thoroughly purge traitors. Fox News, a conservative media outlet, is cited as a representative target.

Fox News has shown an overtly 'pro-Trump' stance but began to fall out during the election process. Especially after it was the first major U.S. media outlet to predict Biden’s victory in the battleground state of Arizona on election day, Trump completely turned against it.

There is also speculation that President Trump may actively pursue money-making activities alongside his political activities. He faces debt maturities amounting to $400 million (approximately 447 billion won) within the next four years and must also cover costs related to ongoing lawsuits.

Aides expect that after leaving office, President Trump will first return to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, which he owns.

Meanwhile, a federal court dismissed a temporary injunction request filed by Trump’s campaign to halt the certification of election results in Pennsylvania. Accordingly, the Pennsylvania State Election Board is expected to complete the certification of the presidential election results in Pennsylvania on the 23rd, where President-elect Joe Biden won by a margin of over 80,000 votes.

In response, the Trump campaign issued a statement saying it finds the ruling unacceptable and intends to appeal.