Trump not running for president
(CNN) - Real estate mogul and television celebrity Donald Trump, who generated a media publicity blitz by saying he might run for president in 2012, announced Monday that he will instead remain a businessman.
"After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the presidency," Trump said in a statement.
With his typical bravado, Trump maintained that he would have won the Republican primary and the general election, but recognized that "running for public office cannot be done half-heartedly."
"Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector," Trump said in the statement.
Trump's flirtation with running for the Republican nomination included his demand that President Barack Obama make public his full birth certificate from Hawaii.
Obama previously had provided a shorter version that serves as the public record in Hawaii, but amid the media glare on the issue raised in part by Trump's repeated questioning of whether the so-called long version of the document existed, the president released it last month.
At an NBC presentation of the network's fall line-up, Trump, star of "Celebrity Apprentice," said "NBC has been amazing. This will be our 12th season and I have to say I love 'Celebrity Apprentice.'"
"I will not be running for president as much as I'd like to," Trump added.
Full release:"After considerable deliberation and reflection, I have decided not to pursue the office of the Presidency. This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.
I want to personally thank the millions of Americans who have joined the various Trump grassroots movements and written me letters and e-mails encouraging me to run. My gratitude for your faith and trust in me could never be expressed properly in words. So, I make you this promise: that I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politician's thoughts. My ability to bring important economic and foreign policy issues to the forefront of the national dialogue is perhaps my greatest asset and one of the most valuable services I can provide to this country. I will continue to push our President and the country's policy makers to address the dire challenges arising from our unsustainable debt structure and increasing lack of global competitiveness. Issues, including getting tough on China and other countries that are methodically and systematically taking advantage of the United States, were seldom mentioned before I brought them to the forefront of the country's conversation. They are now being debated vigorously. I will also continue to push for job creation, an initiative that should be this country's top priority and something that I know a lot about. I will not shy away from expressing the opinions that so many of you share yet don't have a medium through which to articulate.
I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country's most important issues and am hopeful that, when this person emerges, he or she will have the courage to take on the challenges of the Office and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs."
Thank you and God Bless America!
Donald J. Trump
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Give Trump an applauds because this is the best thing he's done for our country. P.S. I'd still like to see those financial statements.
What ego! This guy loves to hear himself talk and that is all this was....talk to drum up publicity. This joker was never a serious candidate and solely wanted to capitalize on racial issues of non-importance. I'm still waiting for full disclosure of Trump's promised financial records.... Obama '12
One idiot Birther down; 50% of GOP to go!
Lawrence O'Donnell on his MSNBC show correctly predicted this some weeks ago. The timing coincides with the renewal of his TV show which was all it was about anyway.
My hat off to–vet in Texas! Exactly what I have been saying for sometime now. I salute you.
ahhhh, I wanted him to run, it would have been an easy win for the democrats.
Did anyone really think this goof was actually running for the POTUS?
He understands what we need to do to create jobs here, but he is completely clueless on how the system works. Anyone who would vote for this guy is a complete idiot!
Was there ever any doubt?
Do you remember 15 years ago when the name TRUMP, was a mysterious brand and the man behind it was even more. A lot of people wished they had what trump had. Millions of dollars, casinos, hotels and golf courses. We wanted to fly around on a helicopter or plane with our name on it. Now, 15 years later, he's a huge joke. He did it to himself. He's a media prankster and we buy what he's selling. No one is better than Donald trump at self promotion, but he's turned himself into the nightly news gag reel. What a shame. Perception is reality my friends. Perhaps his golden locks have covered his ears, eyes and foremost his credibility. Tchump is just a typical chump.
Trump couldn't finacially afford full disclosure. It runs against his business principals.
Guess he got all the publicity he needed/wanted.
Aw gee, I'm so disappointed. The Donald was good for a few much needed laughs.
He's too modest. I believe Amercia shaped his decision with a unified and resounding HELL NO.
Sanity and crumb bum capitalism at its (best) worst. To put this power monger in office would have degraded our esteem to a farther low. What has America gotten to , an all time low. Our respectability will only be enhanced by the best and least corrupt we can find. That is not an easy task with the generation of pocket liners at our creating!Trump, you and all but one of your GOP buds NEVER HAD A CHANCE!
I knew thst was a joke from day one! I would vote for a broken door knob before Trump! Now he can go back to doing what he does best. Pointing his finger!
What a loser... did people actually think this mossback was serious about running, when instead he was just running his mouth about how amaze we (the american people) would be when we see what his "team of investigators" discovered in Hawaii about president Obama birth certificate? go kick a rock mr dunno dump!
"Only in the end, do you understand." Emperor Palpatine.
What ws the purpose of this dog and pony show? Not only has he destroyed his credibility as a politician, he has destroyed any credibility he had as an honest busines person. He insulted everyone he ever did busines with by charecterizing them as "suckers'. He insulted the Chinese and Arab busines men he claimed to have Screwed. He has revealed himself as a racistand by saying how smart he is, has proven that he is probably not!! Who would want to do business with this guy ?? What was the grand plan when he set out on this journey of personal destruction. Or maybe this is what happen when you get too big for your Britches..You EXPLODE !!!
He should have added, 'and when NBC announced I was replaceable on The Apprentice, I realized I could be a bully
on that show, with no feedback, so I did not want to give it up.'
"I will continue to voice my opinion......", which is certainly his right, Better news, we will not hear his opinion from
the Oval Office.
I thought that he was going to wait until his dumb show was done next weekend? Maybe seeing the polls that he would get destroyed by Obama in a general election he thought twice. Trump is a joke!
He's too modest :-)!! I believe America shapped his decision with a unified and resounding NO.
What a croc but what would you expect from such a vain narcissist.
The Donald has left the buiding. OK lets move on. Can the GOP please wake up and nominate someone with intelligable, non polarizing thoughts so at least the debates can be interesting?
"I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election"
What he lacks in substance he makes up in comedy, with himself as ring leader. Why on earth anyone ever takes Trump seriously is beyond comprehension.