In his first public appearance since announcing his candidacy for president in 2024, former President Donald Trump made headlines on Saturday. In the states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, he held two campaign rallies.
The crowds at his events may have been less than those at his famous rallies, but he still used the opportunity to criticize the administration for supporting immigration and crime policies he opposes. He also told New Hampshire’s Republican leaders that he is as “angry” and “driven” as ever, rejecting their fears that he may have “lost his step.”
Trump met with a couple of hundred supporters in South Carolina, accompanied by Governor Henry McMaster, who was leading the Trump campaign’s South Carolina leadership team, and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who stood by his side for his remarks.
He also made jokes on cultural and educational issues, like the “wokeness” of the military and the “perverts” who “indoctrinate youngsters” into thinking there are more than two genders. Trump then promised to cut off federal funding to any school that imposes leftist political or sexual content on children and to reward states that protect parental rights in the classroom.
Trump has argued that parents should be able to fire and replace bad school administrators.
Although Trump is now the only Republican candidate, the field is expected to grow to include ex-administration officials. This Thursday, Nikki Haley revealed that she will shortly decide whether or not to run for president in 2024. Former Secretaries of State Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence have both published autobiographies, a customary stepping stone before a presidential bid.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who won reelection in 2022 by such a wide margin that the once-purple state was branded red by traditional media, is also releasing a memoir next month, but he has been tight-lipped about the specifics. According to polls, if DeSantis ran in the 2024 Republican primary, he would have a greater influence than any other contender.
Whom the Republican nominee would face in the general election is unclear outside of the primary process. As of yet, President Joe Biden has not said whether or not he would seek reelection, which might cause an upheaval in the Democratic primary.
A special counsel is investigating Biden’s handling of classified information like the investigation involving Trump.