Wednesday, November 16: Former President Donald Trump announced his third White House bid Tuesday night at the event held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, which will serve as his campaign headquarters. Grover Cleveland was the only other president in U.S history elected to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Trump is facing exponentially more obstacles with this presidential bid than in 2016. Instead of entering the race with no political background or other measurable factors, he is launching a campaign steeped in significant challenges.
From serving as president from 2017-2021, Trump can now be gauged on his political prowess. Other areas to consider are his attitude on the tragedy in Charlottesville, VA, his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6 insurrection, and the current probe of classified documents found at Mar-A-Lago.
Then there is the current investigation of the Trump Organization being carried out by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The recent midterm elections can also serve as a barometer for Trump’s campaign. The candidates he endorsed faced losses, including the high-profile senate battle in Pennsylvania. Many analysts predicted that if a “red wave” had occurred, Trump would use it to bolster his campaign announcement.
As the GOP did not get the votes they anticipated, Trump claimed his party could not reclaim the White House by nominating “a politician or conventional candidate.”
Seeking a second presidential term will not eliminate the fact that Trump is facing a subpoena for his role in the shocking events of January 6. Nor does it impact the Justice Department’s investigation of numerous sensitive documents found at his private residence.
Even if Trump is not indicted for a crime, he could be barred from ever holding public office again. Well-known for its monumental impact on civil rights, the 14th amendment also states that no person in the United States who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same” can ever be elected to any level of office.
These formidable obstacles will likely be a challenge for Donald Trump while proving advantageous for other 2024 hopefuls. Either way, they promise to add fuel to already-hot political fires.