Trump "I'm Even Angrier"... Campaigning Just Over Two Months After Announcing Candidacy

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former U.S. President Donald Trump officially launched his campaign for the 2024 presidential election on the 28th (local time), just over two months after announcing his candidacy.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

According to The New York Times (NYT) and the Associated Press (AP), President Trump spoke at the Republican annual event held in a high school auditorium in Salem, New Hampshire. This is the first time since declaring his candidacy right after the November midterm elections last year that former President Trump has held a public campaign event.

In his speech, he condemned President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, saying, "I am angrier and will do my best more than ever," referring to the 2020 presidential election.

That evening, Trump traveled to South Carolina, where he held an event at the state capitol to introduce the leadership team that will oversee his campaign efforts in South Carolina.

Trump, who was cited as a reason for the Republican Party's struggles in the midterm elections, has faced criticism and weakening support within the party due to controversies such as dinners with racists and calls to halt the certification process, even after pushing forward with his candidacy declaration. Judicial risks, including a special counsel investigation into classified document leaks and incitement of the Capitol riot, are also ongoing.

With polls showing him trailing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has yet to declare his candidacy, by double digits, some analysts suggest that Trump is politically cornered.

Trump’s full-scale campaign launch is expected to accelerate the movements of other candidates as well. It is anticipated that Governor DeSantis, a leading potential candidate, will produce additional legislative achievements through the Florida legislature and announce his candidacy after May.

Recently, former Vice President Mike Pence has been expanding his voter outreach through book publication events. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also been preparing by releasing a new book. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Representative Liz Cheney are also considered potential Republican presidential candidates.