Donald Trump has dropped his strongest hint yet that he will launch a third run for the White House in 2024.
The former president told a rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday night: “I will very, very, very probably do it again.”
Mr Trump was speaking at the start of a campaign blitz that will see him address three more rallies ahead of next week’s midterm elections.
Mr Trump lost his bid for a second term to Joe Biden in 2020 and last night repeated his unfounded claim that he was the victim of widespread election fraud.
“I ran twice,” he said. “I won twice, and did much better the second time than I did the first, getting millions more votes in 2020 than I got in 2016.
“And likewise, getting more votes than any sitting president in the history of our country by far.
“And now in order to make our country successful, and safe and glorious. I will very, very, very probably do it again.”
He told the cheering crowd: “Get ready, that’s all I’m telling you, very soon. Get ready.”
Trump advisers have reportedly said the Republican is considering announcing a re-election campaign shortly after Tuesday’s midterm in a bid to get ahead of his potential rival candidates.
The elections will decide the make-up of the Senate and House of Representatives - setting the political landscape ahead of the presidential election in two years’ time. It will also decide who becomes governor in a number of key states.
Opinion polls suggest the Republicans are likely to overturn the Democrats’ majority in the House of Representatives. They could also seize control of the Senate, which would severely hamper President Joe Biden’s ability to push through his legislative agenda.
Democrats’ electoral hopes have been hammered by the cost of living crisis - hitting Mr Biden’s public approval rating which slid to 40% in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
But Mr Trump also remains unpopular after his divisive four-year term that ended with the assault on the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his followers.
Mr Trump faces a raft of investigations, including a Justice Department probe into classified documents he took from the White House after leaving office.
Last month’s Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that just 41% of Americans view him favourably.
Despite the poor ratings, Mr Trump was said to be speed-dialing confidantes to thash out possible scenarios as he looks to benefit from the expected Republican midterm wins.
“I think like a moth to a flame, Trump will run in 2024,” one senior adviser told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “I think that he wants to run and announcing before Thanksgiving gives him a great advantage over his opponents and he understands that.”
