Donald Trump officially announced his third re-nomination for the White House with a speech lasting about an hour in prime time in the evening.
" The return of America begins today," he began, before boasting of his successes and blaming Joe Biden for a country now "in decline" , from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to the conflict in Ukraine with which he brought the world "on the brink of nuclear war" .
“Just today a missile was sent, probably from Russia, into the Polish border. People have gone mad and angry and we have a president who falls asleep at international summits,” he attacked. Biden's response came in real time from the G20 in Bali with a dry tweet : " Donald Trump has ruined America" .
“To make America great and glorious again, tonight I am announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. Biden won't have another four years ," Trump promised, assuring that "between now and election day I will fight like no other before and we will defeat the radical democratic left that is trying to destroy our country from within. This won't be my campaign, this will be your campaign."
Trump – who relaunched his Maga (Make America Great Again) movement, his slogan “America first” and the image of a new “golden age” – boasted the successes of his presidency without mentioning the “shadows” related to his person: the chaos of the pandemic and his "big lie" about the election culminating in the attack on Congress, of all.
Finger pointed at Biden also for inflation , the migrant crisis and the invasion of Ukraine . Calling himself more persecuted than Al Capone, Trump ended his speech after 68 minutes . Daughter Ivanka has already called herself out of the political arena, ruling out any involvement of hers.
Trump, before the debate, was attacked by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , his main potential rival, who criticized him for the GOP flop at the Midterm. The support of the tycoon Rupert Murdoch has also failed, who will not support the re-nomination with his media empire.
The New York Times editorial was not long in coming, inviting us to say "enough" to the attempt at political rebirth.
"Donald Trump, against whom two impeachments have been launched, is still running for the 2024 presidential election. Trump is inadequate for public roles, he has shown that he is incompetent", writes the newspaper in a commentary published while the former President was still holding his speech.
“Trump has seriously damaged American democracy. If his circus returns, the progress made would be threatened: in fact, he would once again tempt the Americans with disinformation and lies, vile threats, insults and provocations», thunders the NYT at the end.
(Unioneonline/vf)