'Hanguksawi' Hogan Declares Presidential Bid Withdrawal... Criticism for Saying "Must Break Away from Trump"

Larry Hogan, former governor of Maryland and considered a potential Republican candidate for the next U.S. presidential election, announced on the 5th (local time) that he will not run in next year's presidential race.

In an op-ed for The New York Times (NYT) on the same day, Hogan confirmed this by saying, "I simply do not want my family to go through another grueling campaign just for the sake of experience." Hogan added, "I would never run for president to sell books or to secure a position in the next administration," and explained, "I have long said that I care more about the future of the Republican Party than my own future within it. That is exactly why I have decided not to participate in the presidential primary."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Married to Korean-American Yumi Hogan and also known as a 'Korean son-in-law,' he previously served as Maryland governor for eight years before stepping down due to term limits. He is a moderate centrist who has enjoyed strong support even in Maryland, a state with a strong Democratic presence. Notably, he has been publicly critical of former President Donald Trump and has been classified as a leading 'anti-Trump' figure within the party.

In this op-ed, Hogan also criticized Trump and his supporters, stating, "Republican voters are tired of the drama and open to new leadership." He expressed optimism about the future of the Republican Party but deep concern about the upcoming election, saying, "We cannot afford to lose four consecutive election cycles by nominating Trump as our presidential candidate." He emphasized, "To become a successful governing party again, we must move beyond Trump," and highlighted that "there are many capable Republican leaders with potential."

Given this situation, Hogan judged that declaring his candidacy and splitting the anti-Trump vote would not help the Republican Party. Previously, in interviews with major U.S. media outlets, Hogan consistently stated that he would reconsider running if his candidacy increased the chances of Trump's reelection.

Currently, besides former President Trump, declared Republican primary candidates include former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Perry Johnson. Potential candidates expected to officially announce soon include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Hogan concluded his op-ed by saying, "I will stand with those who share a sensible, conservative vision for the Republican Party and who will help us win elections again. Although I will not be the party’s candidate, I have begun the fight for our future."

On the same day, former Secretary of State Pompeo also appeared on Fox News and directly criticized former President Trump. He said, "In this election, we must choose someone thoughtful who will make America the greatest nation. These people do not disparage the internet, do not throw hamburgers, and do not spend all their time on Twitter or thinking about it." He also confirmed that he will decide within a few months whether to run in the Republican presidential primary.

Meanwhile, at the annual event of the conservative group 'Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC),' former President Trump led the presidential candidate preference poll. In a survey released on the last day of the event, the 4th, Trump received 62% support, far ahead of his competitor, Governor DeSantis, who had 20%. However, since this event is considered pro-Trump, some analysts say the results may not be very meaningful. During the event, Trump claimed, "Joe Biden is leading us down the path of national ruin," and confirmed that he will not give up running in the 2024 presidential election even if indicted due to ongoing investigations.