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Subscribe to RSSBusinessman and television personality Donald Trump said that he will not run for the White House in 2012.
Real estate mogul Donald Trump will not be a candidate for president in 2012.
The New York businessman bounded onto the scene with explosive rhetoric, catering to the fringe "birther" movement, raising questions about President Obama's place of birth, as well as the president's record as a student. (For the record, Obama was born in Hawaii and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and served as editor of the Harvard Law Review.)
When the president released his long-form birth certificate, Trump took a measure of credit.
Trump rocketed to near the top of national polls and even polled well in a few surveys in New Hampshire. But much of the air was taken out of any potential Trump campaign, when Obama derided him as a "carnival barker," and then (along with comedian Seth Myers) skewered Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
NBC News' Domenico Montanaro talks about the real estate mogul's decision not to be a GOP candidate for the White House in 2012.
"Donald Trump said that he was running for president as a Republican," Myers said. "That's funny, because I thought he was running as a joke."
That may be, but in the March NBC/WSJ poll, Trump was second only to Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. He pulled in 17% of the vote, tied with Mike Huckabee. Romney led the field with 21%, Newt Gingrich got 11%, Sarah Palin 10%.
What is notable in all this is that the people who pulled in almost half -- 44% -- of support from Republicans in that poll won't likely be running. Huckabee said Saturday night he's out; Trump said so today; and Palin is thought to be unlikely to launch a bid.
That said, national polls don't mean much when it comes to presidential politics. Rudy Giuliani, for example, led in most national polls on the GOP side this time in 2007. They're just a small measure of the energy and buzz around a candidate.
This is the third time Trump flirted with a presidential bid -- once in 1987 and then in 2000. Trump contended in a 2000 George magazine piece, “I’m the only one who makes money when he runs.”
But his business interests were likely at the center of all this. "Celebrity Apprentice" was renewed for next season on NBC, and Trump had to decide if he was going to be back as its host or run for president.
It's not clear, however, what damage may have been done to his show or business interests because of the politics he played. His "birther" statements and his questioning of Obama's prowess in the classroom angered many African Americans. Before he went full bore on the "birther" issue, African Americans had a favorable opinion of Trump in the February NBC/WSJ poll.
Trump's ratings took a dive, according to The Atlantic's Joshua Green, and Groupon pulled its ads from "Celebrity Apprentice."
Of course, most observers never thought Trump would run, because of the requirement that candidates file a financial disclosure form.
Here's the full statement below. More to come.
For Immediate Release:
New York, New York: May 16, 2011
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
Michael Cohen
Executive Vice President and
Special Counsel To Donald J. Trump
Leave a Comment:
Well, the GoP's chances of a victory in 2012 took a substantial boost, or so it would seem. Then again, looking at the rest of the 'field', they've still got to find a viable candidate to run against Obama.
I will vote for someone that is not in Rich Trumka's back pocket!
NObama 2012 !!!!!!
You are but one person, in a rather sizeable country. Obama's approval ratings are still high enough to put him beyond reach of really any of the current GoP candidates. Which is why Trump dropping out is a good thing, the President needs serious competition, not publicity stunts that have no hope of actually competing on that level.
The president has serious competition, and not sure what you are looking at for approval ratings, but Obama's ratings are in the crapper.
Monica, what "serious competition" is that? I'm NOT voting for any psychos, so I don't know WHO you're referring to. Please, do tell.
LOL...monica...please tell us about this "serious competition" that Obama faces. As of now, he's ahead (by double digits) of everyone who has announced or may announce as a candidate for the Republicans.
@ Monica: You're confusing serious contenders, with your disdain for Obama. An election requires more votes than just one of the far ends of the party's support. As it stands, the GoP field is simply filled with too many people with questionable backgrounds, insane ideology, and a complete unwillingness to work with anyone who has a differing opinion.
Granted, much of the government works this way, but we elected them. What we should be doing is making certain that our votes aren't cast towards similar candidates, so that work and progress are again restored to Washington. Both parties screaming No at each other from the top of their lungs, helps noone but...the politicians who sit there and get paid exorbitant amounts of cash to fight to a standstill.
Trump withdrawing from the race was a step in the right direction, as I said before. But, the rest of the field needs serious work as well.
I think they really believe in this fictional character called "NObama"who they believe will magically appear sometime in the future and will use Reagan given magical conservative powers to reveal the president to be the socialist, communist, terrorist, Muslim, Antichristian, Kenyan Keynesian racist who either unlawfully killed an unarmed Osama Bin Laden or never killed him and made the whole thing up because he was dead already. Alternatively he will note how Obama stepped on the genius plans of GWB to let Osama live which kept America safe.
Actually Monica, polls at this point aren't terribly predictive, but if you want to make the case they are, that current 47 to 52 % approval depending on the poll is higher than Reagan had at this point in his term (and also Clinton...)...Both in case you forgot, went on to win second terms. I'm afraid you'd be hard-pressed to find any expert of any political stripe echoing your sentiment that this field represents "serious competition" and certainly that's not even backed up by polls either. (Even Romney, the presumed nominee, would lose by historical percentages if the election were held today.)
Monica - President Obama's ratings are nowhere near the "crapper" as you so classily put it (related to Trump, are you?). The GOP has so many candidates with not only skeletons but complete graveyards in their closet it is truly embarrassing. I can't believe the GOP has sunk so low.
Monica
Really? Maybe if you watched something other than FOX news you might get educated about something called "facts". They are these pesky little things that seem to get in the way of your arguements.
Believe it,,,i thought they hit bottom when Palin appeared on stage,,,they never cease to amaze,,they keep finding more and more of the same,, each one comes with their own stupidity chart to show the world. I wonder who the next will be,,,is there another just waiting to wear the dunce hat ?
They've got to come up with a candidate that lives up to the standards by which they judge & condemn everybody else:
Gingrich: too immoral
Palin: too divisive
Romney: Not Chrisitian
Paul: pro-choice
Trump: too shallow & arrogant
Huckabee: too weak
well that leaves Jesus, uh-oh ...
Jesus: likes poor people too much
Well there you have it..NET SOME ZERO!!! Next????
and Net SUM Zero!!!
The GOP debates are going to be a 3 ring circus - with a clown car that pulls up and the candidates keep jumping out (will they ever stop?) wearing brightly colored tin foil hats and tooting big horns that bleat talking points they got from some AM talk radio show. The Donald must have decided he'd rather be the ringmaster - I just hope he can fit that combover under his top hat.
Good!! At least this way he can keep his ego built up by convincing himself that if he ran, he would have won. It's almost worth him wasting the publics time running to see him not even get the nomination and have to eat his own words......nah. One less ego maniacal politician to deal with. Maybe there is a God
Never thought he would run..what a hypocryte!He is a sideshow clown any way...I would like to see his High School nad College grades, however!!!!
They're probably C's, mostly, just like W.'s...
And like FDR, only FDR did not Graduate !!!!!!!!!!!
At least they would probably be available to us.
Divr
That's sure a low bar threshold for you. You just sound bitter. And uninformed. But I guess, if it works for you,...go for it.
Really??????????? What a shocker!
He is just a big mouthed idiot with bad hair
yea tuck that tail up your a"" and walk away dumb ass
No, you don't say?? DUUUH.
I guess all the Trump supporters must be feeling stupid now...TOLD YA!
Even now this man's arrogance is unbelievable, thinking that the GOP and ultimately the American people would choose him as president. According to a USA poll, 47% of those polled said they would not vote for Obama but yet 65% said they would not vote for Trump. Even within the GOP I don't think the conservatives and teabaggers would be happy with Trump, because Trump is not a religious man and unlike McCain (whom they coerced into picking Palin as a running mate), he's an Alpha male who would not react well to people telling him what to do.
His ego, riight! His comments of recent weeks have been shameful. Which is why his poll ratings have plummeted and his TV show ratings have also plummeted. I guess it would have been way too much for him to admit he was wrong about things and apologize to the president.
With all due respect, he never planned to run, he was a media creation.
 Best news yet!!!! Who said dreams don't come true?
Somebody give Trump a quarter so he can call someone who gives a SH&T!
We dodged one bullet. There is still time to get Obama out of office before we get another 4 years of Bush. Obama and Bush has equalled 10 years going on 12 years of misery. Let's hope we get a candidate that can accomplish just that, and rid us of these horrible policies.
Yes America Can.
You are very confused, mps.
MPS - say what???
Donald Trump loves to see himself on camera. It was always about HIM and NOT AMERICA! GOOD RIDDANCE!
P.S. I NEVER WATCHED YOUR STUPID APPRENTICE SHOW!
2 down with Huckabee...nuff said. Oh wait...please Newt...u next?
To bad, would have been amusing to watch him run.
I had serious doubts he would actually win. He was just to full of himself. It would be hilarious to see the whole thing blow up in his face. He must have realized how bad it would look when he lost, and decided to save himself some face...
Who couldn't predict this????? This was a publicity stunt and the pres,s for the sake of ratings, acted like he was a credible candidate. Trump is a fraud and a crook who was mainly afraid to release his financial statements when Obama released his birth record. LIAR!
Trump, and the other LIAR- Huckabee, are only interested in cash. The greed in their hearts won't let them run.
There is a God!!!!!
Oh my thank goodness. I was afraid we would have to endure months of seeing that ugly hair do! Wonder why with all his money he can't find a good barber.
Trump you had a snow balls chance in hell of winning you piece of sh*t!
he shot himself in the foot when he asked for the presidents birth-certificate. look out for the irs donald. your big mouth got you in trouble. put up or shut up. his last name fits him properly . cause in spanish trompa means big mouth.
Never has someone with so little talent--he is not self-made, he's gambled away his parent's money--gone so far on so little; oh, sorry, I forgot W. But they are peas in a pod. Still, through the fog of his complete and bombastic idiocy, he nevertheless realized that he would get his ass kicked in a general election. He would get hammered against someone with Obama's debating skills. That and his inablity to avoid sticking his gold plated foot in his jackle mouth would have sunk him immediately. In fact, it would have sunk him so quickly that he would never make it past the primaries. The guys gross and the American people, whose intelligence I often question, would have seen him quickly for what he is. A loudmouthed spoiled brat New Yorker with nothing of substance to say and a spotty business record.
And you want the Chicago Crook Union Wonk Lawyer that never had to make a profit for anyone - just give away money ???????????????????
DHP - sad little right winger. Do you feel better now?
He can at least run for a Senate position.
Jason - no one in New York would vote for him.
Not running for office is the best thing that the trump could do for America.
Thank God is all I can say!! Oh and the part about you aren't going to go home and shut up, as Bill Cosby said RUN OR SHUT UP. Now your not going to run SHUT UP!!!!
Yes - I was correct in my post above. Celebrity Apprentice was renewed. It was announced yesterday. So no surprise at all that The Donald "decided" not to run today. Since he never had any intention of running anyway and used our political system and our media (shame on them) as tools in his publicity stunt to remain a third rate reality TV star.
Lawrence O'Donnell - you called it and SOME of us were listening!
Is that the sound of choking I hear?