Trump hints strongly he'll announce presidential bid Nov. 15, roiling GOP leaders


Former President Donald Trump said Monday night at an election eve rally in Ohio that he will make "a very big announcement" on Nov. 15 at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. "We want nothing to detract from the importance of tomorrow," he added. Trump will presumably announce his candidacy for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, after months of thinly veiled hints. The fact that Trump didn't go all the way was due in large part to "a scramble Monday in the Republican Party," The Washington Post reports.
"Trump told people close to him Monday that he might announce his candidacy" at Monday night's Ohio rally, the Post reports, citing three people familiar with the discussions. "The remarks prompted a chain of phone calls from party leaders who have tried for months to keep Trump from announcing until after the midterms." They succeeded in talking him out of making the announcement, the Post adds, "by telling him it would get buried under election news and he'd get more attention later."
Republican leaders were concerned that Trump making his candidacy official before the midterms "would gin up Democratic turnout, particularly in razor-thin Senate races where the control of the chamber is in the balance," the Post reports. "But Trump has been determined in recent weeks to get credit for the midterm results should Republicans do well, and according to advisers, he has grown frustrated watching the large crowds and energy for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis," whom he views as his main rival for the GOP nomination. Trump also reportedly wants to launch his campaign before a Justice Department indictment.
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.
"It just boggles the mind why [Trump] would hand that to Democrats at this late hour," one Republican strategist told the Post. "Making the conversation about himself and risking losses across the map that otherwise might have been wins would be a bad way to two-step into a presidential race." You can read more about the Trump-GOP tensions at The Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
3 questions to ask when deciding whether to repair or replace your broken appliance
the explainer There may be merit to fixing what you already have, but sometimes buying new is even more cost-effective
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump set to hit Canada with 35% tariffs
Speed Read The president accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of failing to stop the cross-border flow of fentanyl
-
Could Trump really 'take over' American cities?
Today's Big Question Trump has proposed a federal takeover of New York City and Washington, D.C.
-
Mahmoud Khalil files $20M claim over ICE detention
Speed Read This is the 'first damages complaint' brought by an individual targeted by the Trump's administration's 'crackdown' on Gaza war protesters
-
Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariffs
Speed Read He accused Brazil's current president of leading a 'witch hunt' against far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro
-
Is the Trump-Putin bromance over... again?
Today's Big Question The US president has admitted he's 'p*ssed off' with his opposite number
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials