Carlos Barria/Reuters
- Trump has told allies that he plans to run at the next presidential election in 2024, according to a report.
- The defeated president on Tuesday endorsed Ronna McDaniel to stay on as Republican National Committee chair in what observers say is another sign he plans to run again.
- The president’s former chief of staff last week said Trump would “absolutely” run again in 2024.
- “I would absolutely expect the president to stay involved in politics and would absolutely put him on a shortlist of people who are likely to run in 2024. He doesn’t like losing,” Mick Mulvaney told a think tank.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Donald Trump has told allies that he plans to run for president in 2024, according to a report, and could announce his candidacy before the end of the year.
Trump is continuing to publicly refuse to accept defeat in last week’s election and his team has filed several lawsuits in key states that helped President-elect Joe Biden secure his victory.
However, Trump has reportedly told allies that he plans to run at the next presidential election, and could announce his intention before the end of the year, according to Reuters.
Last week Trump ally Mick Mulvaney, his former chief of staff, also said the president would “absolutely” run again in 2024.
He told the Institute for International and European Affairs think tank: “Now, I think folks are starting to realise that if Donald Trump loses, he might be the guy [to run as Republican Party candidate in 2024], and I’m telling you absolutely.”
"I would absolutely expect the president to stay involved in politics and would absolutely put him on a shortlist of people who are likely to run in 2024. He doesn't like losing."
He said that Trump was "high-energy" and might run in 2028, at which point he'd be 82 years-of-age.
"Don't lose sight of the fact that he will technically be younger than Joe Biden is now, four years from now. Stories about his energy level, the fact he doesn't sleep, and his vivaciousness are true," said Mulvaney, who currently serves as the US envoy to Northern Ireland.
"That's not the stuff of spin. He's a very high-energy 74-year-old and I absolutely expect him to be further engaged in 2024 or 2028 if he were to lose this next election... There's actually a non-zero chance that Donald Trump runs again in 2028 and Joe Biden does not."
Under the US constitution, presidents can only serve for two four-year terms, although those terms do not have to be successive.
Speculation about Trump's future was heightened on Wednesday when announced that he wanted Ronna McDaniel to continue as Republican National Committee chair.
Outgoing presidents do not usually get a say in who leads the Republican Party's chief committee, with one source telling Reuters that it is an early sign that Trump already plans to run again in 2024.
The president tweeted: "I am pleased to announce that I have given my full support and endorsement to Ronna McDaniel to continue heading the Republican National Committee (RNC). With 72 MILLION votes, we received more votes than any sitting President in U.S. history — and we will win!"