Donald Trump launched his race for the White House on Tuesday, launching a campaign that promises to be merciless in his Republican camp, bruised and divided by the disappointment of the recent elections.
“I am announcing my candidacy for the presidential election,” declared the 76-year-old former president, to thunderous applause from the activists gathered in the large reception hall of his luxurious residence in Mar-a-Lago, in Florida.
Promising an America “back”, Donald Trump painted an idyllic picture of his first term, evoking a country at peace, prosperous and respected on the international scene.
PHOTO GIORGIO VIERA, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Activists traveled to Mar-a-Lago to listen to his speech.
Conversely, the former head of state, wearing his traditional red tie, did not have words harsh enough to denounce the record of his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.
A country plunged into violence and crime, where soaring prices are strangling American households, where “millions” of illegal immigrants cross the border with Mexico, he was indignant in front of a row of American flags.
“Joe Biden embodies the failures of the left and of Washington’s corruption,” the ex-businessman accused in his pugnacious speech, lasting just over an hour. pledging that the Democratic president “does not spend four more years” in the White House.
Joe Biden “is driving us to the brink of nuclear war”, he also said, referring to American support for Kyiv.
Moments earlier, Donald Trump had filed his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election with US electoral authorities, a first official step.
“This is not going to be my campaign, this is going to be our campaign,” he promised his supporters, seated on gilded chairs. He repeated to them his desire to “clean out the backwater” of Washington, according to his established formula to designate the hated elites of the federal capital.
No “giant wave”
This new candidacy is the third of the septuagenarian to the White House.
Coming to power in November 2016 by creating the greatest modern political surprise, Donald Trump had flouted all customs during his presidency. He had left Washington in chaos after failing to seek re-election against Joe Biden – a defeat he never acknowledged.
It also foreshadows a possible remake of the 2020 presidential election: President Biden recently reaffirmed his “intention” to run for a second term.
The reaction of the Democratic leader to the announcement of his rival was not long in coming: “Trump has let America down”, rebuked Joe Biden, traveling to Indonesia.
Rumors have been rife in recent weeks about an imminent announcement by Donald Trump, the ex-president then determined to ride on the anticipated success of the Republicans in the November 8 election to regain power.
But the “giant wave” predicted with great aplomb by the conservatives has not materialized, far from it: President Biden’s Democratic party made sure this weekend to keep control of the Senate, and could even widen its majority, thwarting the predictions of the pollsters.
The Republicans will most likely take over the House of Representatives from the Democrats, but with a significantly smaller majority than expected.
This more than mixed performance of the Republican camp, in particular on the part of candidates dubbed by Donald Trump, has tarnished the reputation of the kingmaker of the tribune.
Several influential voices in the conservative camp have also called on the real estate magnate to step aside from the Republican leadership, casting a shadow over his presidential projects.
fierce battle
Part of the conservative electorate has already turned to another possible candidate for the White House and resident of Florida: its governor, Ron DeSantis. The 40-year-old, new star of the hard right, who is coming out of the mid-term elections stronger, assured that his fight “was only just beginning”.
And did not fail to denounce on Tuesday the “extremely disappointing performance” of the rest of his camp in this election, taking care however not to name Donald Trump directly.
Donald Trump’s former vice-president, Mike Pence, his ex-head of diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, the governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin… the battle for the Republican nomination promises to be bitter.
But the former president retains undeniable popularity with his base for the moment, a tide of red caps that continues to flock to his campaign rallies. The majority of polls still give him the winner of a Republican primary.
An obstacle could however complicate Donald Trump’s ascent to the White House: his numerous legal troubles, which could end up disqualifying him.
The former president is the target of several investigations for his role in the attack on the headquarters of Congress on January 6, 2021 or his management of the White House archives.
“I am a victim”, lamented Donald Trump in front of his supporters.
Relying on an “instinct” always put forward, the tribune, whose fall has been announced a thousand times, has so far survived all the scandals. As if, by dint of accumulation, they no longer had any effect on him.