Trump is reportedly telling people 'I'm running' and wanted to announce his 2024 campaign in August


As a highly-speculated 2024 presidential campaign continues to gain steam, former President Donald Trump is reportedly "constantly" telling people "I'm running," and was actually talked out of announcing his candidacy in August, The Washington Post reports.
At first emboldened by the upheaval in Afghanistan, Trump was cautioned against right away sharing his 2024 plans so as to not force "a reshuffling of his newly formed fundraising apparatus" or "complicate his ability to appear on broadcast television without triggering equal time rules," writes the Post, according to people familiar with the discussions. Advisers were also concerned Democrats could also use Trump's candidacy to their advantage during the midterms, and argued the ex-president "could be more effective electing like-minded Republicans next year if he was not an official candidate himself."
"The biggest point we drove home was that he doesn't want to own the midterms if we don't win back the House or Senate," said one individual.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump was convinced to hold off (at least for the time being), and is now relying on a "winks and nods" strategy in which he is acting "like a candidate for public office ... without actually declaring so himself," notes the Post. The former president has resumed cross-country rallies, and continues to raise money using the same tactics as his last campaign. And even as other Republicans test the 2024 waters, Trump has "made clear" he's watching out for potential opponents, per the Post.
"He tacitly keeps the 2024 crowd on notice that nobody can move a major muscle until he decides what he's doing," said former adviser Kellyanne Conway. "As for 2024, there has been a shift from intention to urgency as he watches in horror the many failings of this administration." Read more at The Washington Post.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
May 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include how much to pay for a pardon, medical advice from a brain worm, and a simple solution to the national debt.
-
5 costly cartoons about the national debt
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on the USA's financial hole, rare bipartisan agreement, and Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
-
Green goddess salad recipe
The Week Recommends Avocado can be the creamy star of the show in this fresh, sharp salad
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Trump's super-charged pardon push raises eyebrows and concerns
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Never shy about using his pardon ability for political leverage, Trump's spate of amnesty announcements suggests the White House is taking things to a new level
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs