Trump: "If I run, other candidates in the party will drop out"... Solidifying his next presidential bid

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is aiming to run again in the next U.S. presidential election, expressed confidence by saying, "If I decide to run, other candidates within the party will drop out midway."

He also said that if he had to face anyone within the party, he would defeat them.

Former President Trump has not yet officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.

According to U.S. political media outlet Politico on the 3rd (local time), Trump said in an interview with Yahoo Finance, "If I run for the 2024 presidential election, most potential competitors, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, will drop out midway."

Trump specifically mentioned, "If I face DeSantis, I will defeat him just as I would all the others."

The full interview is scheduled to be released on the 4th, and Politico reported some excerpts.

DeSantis is a close ally of Trump and is also considered a leading candidate in the next presidential primary.

Neither of them has declared their candidacy yet, but Trump has made several remarks suggesting a bid for re-election. U.S. media are practically treating his re-election bid as a foregone conclusion.

DeSantis is also continuously mentioned as a leading Republican presidential candidate in the 'post-Trump' era. However, he recently declared his intention to run for re-election as governor next year.

In the interview, former President Trump mentioned the support he has within the Republican Party and expressed confidence that he could easily secure the nomination if he runs, while also moderating his tone by saying he is not yet ready to do so.

He added, "I think I would do very well if I run," explaining that this prediction is based on polls and voter enthusiasm.

Politico reported, "A showdown between Trump and DeSantis could be a test of whether Trump's influence within the party remains strong, given that the two have closely cooperated."

DeSantis, elected governor in 2018, is a hardline conservative who has consistently supported Trump.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he attracted nationwide attention by easing social distancing guidelines and pushing voting restrictions, and he also sparked controversy by refusing to pay the salaries of school superintendents who mandated mask-wearing in schools.

Politico noted that in polls excluding Trump, DeSantis leads within the Republican Party, but in a July poll including Trump, Trump received majority support.

However, in an online mock vote conducted in June among participants of the Western Conservative Summit (WCS) held in Colorado, although the sample was not as precise as general polls, DeSantis managed to surpass Trump.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.