It’s Official: Donald Trump Not Running

ABC political reporter Rick Klein is the first to report the news on Twitter:

And the official statement:

After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.

I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run. My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician’s thoughts.  My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country.  I will continue to push our President and the country’s policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness.  Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country’s conversation. They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country’s top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don’t have a medium through which to articulate.

I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country’s most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs.

Thank you and God Bless America!

Donald J. Trump

Color me unsurprised.

 

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, The Presidency, US Politics, , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Bleev K says:

    I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements

    millions of brainless losers.

  2. John Hannaford says:

    Nuts. The potential for entertainment in the coming year is declining with each one of these novelty act drop-outs. There are so many choosing to bray for attention from the sidelines that they’ll drown each other out. Comedy writers across America must be sighing to themselves today.

  3. LaurenceB says:

    I’m not too upset that Trump is quitting as long as his investigators in Hawaii keep working.

    (I understand they “can’t believe what they are finding!”)

    Also, the world ends next week.

  4. Hey Norm says:

    First the Huckster, now Trump. More and more it looks Bachmann’s to lose.

  5. TG Chicago says:

    My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country.

    Hmm, so what was the important economic and foreign policy issue he brought to the forefront of the national dialogue?

    Oh, right.

  6. Murray says:

    What a shame, his candidacy was so promising from a comedic point of view.