President Donald Trump has already told some of his senior advisers that he plans to run in the 2024 presidential election, according to a report from Axios.
The reports come as the president refuses to concede and remains engaged in an unprecedented effort to cast doubt on the November 3 results. On Saturday, multiple news outlets, including Fox News, declared Democratic candidate Joe Biden as the winner of the election and 46th president of the United States.
But Trump spent the weekend either claiming he won the election or making unverified accusations of fraud.
Despite his insistence that he hasn't lost, the president's advisers have reportedly spent days trying to explain to him that he definitely did lose the election, according to The Wall Street Journal. Even his wife and son-in-law have tried to float the idea of conceding, which he has shot down. Yet, the news on Monday that Trump was looking ahead to 2024 was a tacit sign that he is coming to terms with the fact that he has lost.
There were a variety of responses to the news that Trump was looking to run again in 2024. Some said he would only float the idea of running again to continue fundraising while others said he wanted to run again just to complicate potential criminal charges he may face once he leaves office.
Trump is gonna announce he's running again in 2024 so he can accept campaign contributions and start holding rallies again ASAP because they're the only thing keeping him going and you KNOW he's not spending his own money on that shit
— Yes, You're Racist (@YesYoureRacist) November 9, 2020
Also to try to keep the only leverage he has over his creditors, which is "maybe I'll be President again"
— Moses Gates (@MosesNYC) November 9, 2020
He hasn't stopped taking donations. Right now it's called the "Save the Election" fund, but I still get 8-10 emails from his Super PAC every day…looking for handouts.
From a guy who 4 years ago swore he would be "self-funded…totally self-funded."
— Karl with a K (@karlerikson) November 9, 2020
he also needs to run immediately to make the claim that the impending NY prosecutions are politically motivated, he's gonna run for office until the day he dies
— Anarchist Jurisdiction CEO (@koush) November 9, 2020
In 2024 Trump will have a HUGE advantage because he'll be able to recruit staff directly from jail instead of sending them there later.
— ????C͓̽h͓̽o͓̽p͓̽p͓̽e͓̽r͓̽R͓̽e͓̽s͓̽i͓̽s͓̽t͓̽s͓̽???? (@chopperresists) November 9, 2020
First he never lost. Now he wants to run again. Dude needs to make up his mind. pic.twitter.com/sjgiSTz4Nb
— lsutigerzfan (@lsutigerzfan) November 9, 2020
Others noted that another run by Trump would complicate things for other Republicans hoping to use his base for their own potential presidential runs.
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
The Republicans telling Trump not to concede (Cruz, Graham, Rubio, Gingrich) aren’t doing it because they actually think Trump won.
They’re doing it for his base; posturing for 2024.
They want his votes and they want to run for President.
— Nathan H. Rubin (@NathanHRubin) November 9, 2020
I think Trump will love post-presidential life and thus won't actually run in 2024. But spending the next 4 years pretending he will fuels his need for attention, tamps down on GOP recriminations, and complicates the optics of prosecuting him for criminal activity. https://t.co/VbP0FooC9A
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) November 9, 2020
Some said it was simply because Trump loves the attention.
“Trump will not be running for president again. He will, however, continue to tease the possibility of a 2024 run … As long as we think he might run, there’s still reason to pay attention to him and talk about him and act like he’s important.” https://t.co/OfnzPFEBjA
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) November 9, 2020
While many are throwing cold water on the idea, it would not be the first time in U.S. history that a president ran for two non-consecutive terms. Grover Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, becoming the 22nd and 24th president.
Other Republican officials, including Senator Lindsay Graham, have urged Trump to run again.
