Donald Trump has said he will make a “very big announcement” on 15 November, fuelling speculation that he will declare a run for the presidency in 2024. The former president made the promise during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, on the eve of the US midterm elections.
Speaking to a crowd that had waited hours, Trump said: “I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, November 15, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. We want nothing to detract from the importance of tomorrow.” Confidants had spent the day suggesting he was on the brink of announcing his candidacy, but the announcement did not materialise at the rally.
Trump was ostensibly in Ohio to campaign for Republican Senate candidate JD Vance, who is in a tight race with Democrat Tim Ryan. However, the former president’s 100-minute speech focused largely on himself, rambling through anecdotes about weather, windshield wipers, and his views on socialism under President Joe Biden. He also took aim at reporters and touted his own popularity.
During the rally, Trump displayed poll numbers showing he commands 71% support among Republicans, compared to just 10% for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom he recently belittled as “Ron DeSanctimonious”. The crowd booed when moderate Republican Governor Mike DeWine was invited on stage, underscoring Trump’s continued grip on the party.
The timing of Trump’s teased announcement has been a subject of debate among his strategists. Some saw it as an opportunity to claim credit for a Republican victory, while others, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, warned it could backfire if Democrats outperformed expectations. Trump’s aides had hinted at an announcement throughout the day, generating significant media attention.
If Trump follows through on 15 November, he remains the most likely winner of the Republican presidential primaries in 2024. The former president has repeatedly claimed he was “right about everything” and continues to dominate the political landscape, despite ongoing civil and criminal investigations.
