By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted 6 hours ago, updated 55 minutes ago
Former US President Donald Trump. MARCO BELLO / Portal
The former American president returns to meetings on Saturday in hopes of boosting his candidacy for the White House.
A speech in key state New Hampshire ahead of another in South Carolina 1,500 km away: Donald Trump is holding campaign rallies on Saturday, January 28 in hopes of boosting his candidacy for the White House.
Two and a half months into the race for the 2024 election, the former American President leaves the gilded drawing rooms of his Florida residence for a journey that owes nothing to chance. These two states will be among the first to organize their Republican primary in early 2024. A win would guarantee Donald Trump, the winner, a valuable — and necessary — boost for the remainder of the campaign.
On Saturday morning, the seventy-year-old travels to Salem, a small town in New Hampshire, where the Republican Party is holding its annual convention. But after years of ruling the “Grand Old Party,” Donald Trump won’t necessarily be on conquered ground. In this border state with Canada, many local politicians have criticized the billionaire for sealing the Republicans’ chances in the recent midterm elections by supporting candidates deemed too extreme.
I personally think it has lost a lot of its appeal and aura. »
A former supporter of Donald Trump
“Personally, I think he’s lost a lot of his appeal and aura,” said local legislator Mike Bordes, who nonetheless supported Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Salem — “He’s the past president, so we have him to welcome him” — he also says he’s “ready to move forward and consider other options” for the Republican nomination. Same observation in South Carolina, one at the Atlantic-bordering state where Donald Trump will unveil his campaign team at 4:00 p.m. (21:00 GMT).
Because if the ex-president is officially the only declared Republican candidate, several applicants in this state also seem to be ready to go. Starting with former Gov. Nikki Haley, who promised her followers an announcement very soon. Donald Trump has also seen several of his key donors publicly announce they will not support his 2024 candidacy in favor of Ron DeSantis — Florida governor and the party’s rising star — but he will not be formally nominated either.
Political concerns that the ex-president, who was already surrounded by countless investigations, would have done well. In December, a parliamentary committee investigating the Republican’s responsibility for his supporters-led attack on the United States Congress recommended a criminal prosecution against him. A judge in Georgia has also promised an “immediate” decision on the political pressure he was exerting in that state.
TO HAVEIN ADDITION – Trump would have an interest in forgoing the election and sponsoring DeSantis, according to Renaud Girard
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But beware of burying Donald Trump too quickly, his supporters keep saying. The tribune, whose fall has been announced thousands of times, has so far survived all scandals. The ex-property tycoon could also benefit greatly from the upcoming unbanning of his Facebook and Instagram accounts and finds a very lucrative megaphone there. Donald Trump or someone else… The candidate chosen by the Republican camp at the end of this primary will face the Democratic Party nominee in November 2024.
President Joe Biden has previously said he “intends to run again” and has promised to make his decision public earlier this year. Gradually, the architecture of his possible candidacy is also taking shape. The 80-year-old leader will be in New York next Tuesday and in Philadelphia on Friday to meet with wealthy supporters to help fund his party’s coffers. Political experts are predicting a possible announcement after his State of the Union address, a traditional keynote address by presidents to parliamentarians – and scheduled for February 7. No Democrat has come forward to challenge him.