Trump Cornered, May Announce Next Presidential Run This Month

Donald Trump [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Reports have emerged that former U.S. President Donald Trump may announce his candidacy for the next presidential election as early as this month. It is speculated that he will declare his candidacy to overcome the predicament caused by the candid revelations of a former White House staff member related to the January 6 Capitol riot incident last year.

According to CNN on the 2nd (local time), Trump told his close aides last week that he wants to announce his presidential bid as early as this month, taking advantage of President Joe Biden's declining approval ratings. CNN cited sources saying that the original plan was to announce the candidacy after the November midterm election results, but after Cassidy Hutchinson, a key aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, testified before the House investigative committee, Trump wants to bring forward the announcement.

On the 28th of last month, Hutchinson testified at the House committee hearing that on the day of the riot, former President Trump insisted on going to the Capitol, tried to seize the steering wheel by choking a security guard’s neck, and threw a plate of food against the restaurant wall in anger over the Attorney General’s interview stating there was no evidence of election fraud. This shocking testimony has led to a rapid rise in public calls for Trump’s indictment, placing him in an unexpected political crisis.

CNN pointed out, "It is true that the House investigative committee hearing inflicted greater damage on the Trump camp than expected," adding, "Public testimonies from current and former aides have even raised the possibility of indicting former President Trump."

Because of this, close aides say that Trump is considering moving up the timing of his candidacy announcement to as early as the beginning of this month to turn the tide of public opinion in his favor and expand his platform to escape the crisis. They said that Trump believes that once he gains attention through the announcement, he can leverage his strengths to conduct a favorable public relations campaign.

One aide said, "Former President Trump knows well that if he announces his candidacy, he will once again be at the center of the stage," and that he is keeping this in mind as the best way to save himself from the predicament caused by the hearings. Another aide said, "Trump will announce his candidacy in July," and another source said, "Trump has been speaking more decisively about this recently."

CNN also analyzed that the possibility of Trump entering the presidential race early is partly to preemptively guard against potential rivals such as former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gaining momentum.

It is reported that Trump originally considered announcing his candidacy around September but has leaned toward waiting until after the November midterm elections to firmly establish his political influence before throwing his hat into the ring.