Donald Trump Announces Bid for 2024

The Campaign Starts

The Announcement. On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump announced his long-anticipated third presidential bid from his Florida home. Kickstarting his speech, Trump declared: “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and my fellow citizens, America’s comeback starts right now.” The 76-year-old is the first Republican to announce a 2024 presidential campaign in a historically early debut. Only a handful of defeated presidents have launched bids to return to the White House, and only one — Grover Cleveland — has ever successfully done so.

Reactions from the Left. Democrats roundly panned the former President’s announcement. For those on the Left, Trump is the initiator of the movement they have fought so hard against. They cite his loss in the 2020 election as evidence that the American people reject him and vow to replicate those results should he win the nomination again. These critics also say the former President’s speech was laced with falsehoods, accusing him of purposefully misrepresenting his record.

Divide on the Right. Trump’s announcement comes one week after Republicans underperformed expectations in the midterm elections, something he has received some blame for on the Right. Reportedly, some Republicans had urged the former President to delay his campaign launch. Many critics on the Right believe a new candidate would fare better in the national debate, pointing to success in states like Florida. However, Trump’s allies maintain that he is the most popular figure in the GOP. They cite his endorsement rate as evidence of his continued strong influence in the Republican Party.

The move has also sparked debate among Republicans about its potential impact on the runoff for U.S. Senate in Georgia next month between incumbent Senator Raphael Walker (D) and his Trump-endorsed challenger, Herschel Walker (R). In the 2021 Georgia runoffs, some critics argued Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud depressed Republican turnout, leading Democrats to victory and the Senate majority. Many detractors suggest Trump’s announcement could discourage moderate Republicans from coming out for Walker and draw attention and funds away from the crucial race. Supporters claim Trump will motivate Republican voters and could help notch a notable win for the GOP.

Announcement Impact

Clearing the Field? Some have argued that Trump’s early announcement is an attempt to crowd out the primary field. These observers argue the former President’s influence over the GOP is waning as voters begin turning to other potential presidential candidates. One such figure — Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) — has drawn increasing chatter about a suspected presidential run and emerged as a seemingly strong alternative following the midterm elections after crushing his Democratic opponent in a traditional swing state. As recent polling seems to indicate DeSantis could have a viable path to the nomination — even in a field with the former President — some say Trump hopes to coalesce support before the Governor can launch a challenge.

Ongoing Investigations. Others also note that the former President’s comeback bid comes amid several legal probes investigating alleged wrongdoing. Traditionally, federal law enforcement agencies avoid legal actions that could impact elections, fearing the appearance of improper involvement. Should Trump be successful in his attempt to take back the White House, he would have many more tools to fight the probes than he does as a private citizen.

Major Speech Points

Foreign Affairs. Much of Trump’s return speech focused on foreign affairs. The former President sharply criticized the Biden administration for what he argues are significant policy failures. He cited Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, North Korean missile tests, and Chinese aggression toward Taiwan as key examples of these perceived missteps. Trump argued that these issues stemmed from a global perception of President Biden as weak and vowed to project an image of strength should he return to the Oval Office.

New York Post

Talking Up Trump. During the speech, Trump also touted his administration’s agenda and highlighted his endorsement successes. The former President highlighted several policies he will make part of his campaign. This agenda includes pushing for a constitutional amendment limiting how many terms individuals can serve in Congress. He announced plans to permanently ban campaigns from receiving taxpayer funds and impose a lifetime ban on former lawmakers and Cabinet members from becoming lobbyists. Trump also announced several proposed election law changes, including requiring voter ID, eliminating early voting, and mandating paper ballots for elections. The former President attacked Critical Race Theory, vowing to cut federal funding to any school that teaches it. In one of his most notable proposals of the night, Trump said he would push for legislation to ensure drug dealers receive the death penalty. Among these significant promises, the former President also said his administration would plant an American flag on Mars.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think relatively few defeated presidents have sought to run for the White House again?
2. Will Trump’s announcement impact the Georgia Senate runoff? If so, how?
3. Why do you think Trump announced his run so early?
4. Do you support any of Trump’s proposed policies? If so, which one do you agree with most and why?
5. Do you oppose any of Trump’s proposed policies? If so, which one do you disagree with most and why?

Classroom Content

64

min

Fox Business

Former President Donald Trump makes a ‘special announcement’

• Video
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• 10/15/2022

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