Will he or won’t he?
That’s the question for former President Donald Trump, who’s suggested he’ll run for president again in 2024 without announcing definitively whether he’s in for sure.
Trump has toyed with the idea of running for president before without following through, and we’re still more than a year out from the Republican presidential primaries, so a lot could change between now and then. Still, Trump appears well prepared to launch another bid should he decide to do so.
Here’s what we know about a potential 2024 Trump campaign now:
1. People who talk to Trump say he’s running again
Longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller told Cheddar News last Thursday that the chance Trump runs again was “somewhere between 99, 100%.”
“I think he’s definitely running in 2024,” Miller said.
Then in video obtained by online political show the Undercurrent and posted on Twitter Friday, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also said Trump would run.
“He’s gonna run again,” Jordan said. “I know so.” He said he spoke with Trump the day before and that Trump was “about ready to announce” over the fallout from the U.S. exit of Afghanistan.
2. Trump is planning to visit Iowa
If you’re a politician with even an ounce of presidential ambition, you will find a reason to get to the state that hosts the first presidential caucus.
Trump signaled his intention to head to Iowa a week ago Monday, telling conservative talk radio show host Todd Starnes he’s planning upcoming rallies in states including Iowa and Georgia. The Des Moines Register reported Tuesday that Trump will hold his rally Oct. 9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, his first visit to the state since the 2020 campaign.
Save America, Trump’s PAC, has also made moves in Iowa, hiring two Republican operatives last month. Having a strong operation in place for the first caucus could be crucial if Trump wants a big win right out of the gate. He finished second in Iowa in 2016 to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
3. Trump just helped launch a post-White House faith advisory board
Former Trump administration officials have created a national faith advisory board to continue their work outside the White House, and Trump gave the group his blessing, calling into a conference call announcing the board last Thursday.
On the call, Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of religious issues and talked up actions he took in office that are popular with evangelicals, like formally recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. “One of my greatest honors was fighting for religious liberty and for defending the Judeo-Christian values and principles of our nation’s founding,” Trump said according to Religion News Service.
The National Faith Advisory Board was co-founded by Paula White, a televangelist and former adviser to the Trump administration’s Faith and Opportunity Initiative, as well as former Office of Public Liaison officials Jennifer Korn and Amanda Robbins Vargo.
4. Trump has raised tons of money
In the first half of 2021, Trump brought in millions of dollars through his three political committees. According to Federal Election Commission records, Trump had about $102 million in cash on hand as of June 30 between the Save America PAC, Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Make America Great Again PAC. That amount of fundraising for a former president is unprecedented and aided by a robust email, text message and digital ad campaign targeting Trump supporters with calls for donations as well as false claims and suggestions that the 2020 election was stolen.
5. Trump is a big fundraising draw among Republicans
In March, Trump attorneys sent cease-and-desist notices to the Republican National Committee and Republicans’ House and Senate campaign organizations, asking them to stop using Trump’s name and likeness in their fundraising efforts. They did not stop.
Instead, Trump still shows up in digital ads, emails and merchandise sold by the party, like this “Miss Me?” shirt sold by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The midterms have become an important proving ground for would-be presidential contenders since they can raise money and campaign for congressional candidates and get in front of voters. Trump’s already doing that without even trying. His name and likeness are helping fund his party’s efforts to take back Congress in 2022, even though he asked them not to. It proves how much of a head start Trump might begin with if he campaigns in earnest for Republicans next year.