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
I personally think he saw that people weren't backing him and decided to just end it now. Smart move.
No surprise here. Trouble is, though, he is promising/threatening to keep mouthing off. I don't want to hear another word from this ignorant blowhard. Oddly, he questions the education of others, but has shown himself to be very ignorant of some facts, and just plain stupid about other things. Yes, go back to what you know best....ripping people off to satisfy your own greed and ego.
Trump can dish it out but he can't take it! He's a JOKE and will only continue to become a bigger one! This guy couldn't tell the truth if he was waterboarded....but let's try anyway. I'm sure we'd all have a laugh or two.
Good riddans! I've never seen anyone with such a huge ego and so delusional. Did he really think he'd actually have a shot at the Presidency?
Say what you want about Trump, it can be applied to the rest of the losers who are running Democrat or Republican. Here is the future: another term for Obama then 2 terms for a Republican then back to a Democrat. The process will repeat until the USA is all USed up, shouldn't take too much longer.
I imagine Obama's relection chances just dropped by about 90% today. (These chances very well might be 50% plus, before today they were probably at about 95%).
Even if you think Obama can and will still win - don't fool yourself, Obama would have been the biggest fan of a Trump campaign (it would almost ensure another term for Obama).
What a shame. He made the GOP a legitimate 3 ring Circus. Without his candidacy it is only a freak show!
Thank God, the obnoxious clown can concentrate on his hair do now.
as usual, nothing but running off at the mouth and no balls to back it up. Whats the matter donald scared to find out just how bad you would lose if the people got to vote on it?
I would like to announce that im putting my name in the hat with trumps full backing of my campaign
He'd be working for the union if it were't for his rich dad, Fred Trump. Had to borrow a few mil a decade or so ago, so Fred goes into casino and buys $3 mil in chips and leaves. Many questionable things, and his only public co, the hotel and casino co, has been to bankruptcy ct three times.
The best news I've heard all day!
Obviously he was never going to run. He would have to make full financial disclosure.
This guy has been put to shame and he knows he can never be president. Trump is just one of many who have tried to do President Obama in, but has failed or will fail. Our president is special and don't forget it!
He'd win the nomination because nothing says "Family Values Republican" like a guy who's been married three times.
"Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector," Trump said in the statement.
Yes, he needs a few more bankruptcy and SEC investigations under his belt.
"This decision does not come easily or without regret"
Yes, he regrets getting his but kicked in the public eye – he regrets not being able to bully the american public like he bullies those in his little business world where he can control everything. I love seeing a bully put in his place!
And for those who would have actually voted for him.....brain transplant may be the only hope.
He is such a joke to even think someone one would vote him!! Can't wait to vote for Obama in 2012
This fool never got the chances of becoming the President of the greatest nation on earth.. Hes just an idiot with a lot of money who thinks he can win.... Do you remember crazy wanna be Governor, Meg wHITMan OR Linda McMahon...... yeah don't waste ur money trump hole
I think I just will give up voting altogether.
Thank you!
He has suceeded in making a complete fool of himself,he let the whole wide world know he is a racist. Where was this guy and what was he doing during the worst 8 years of an american presidency,yeah,that of george bush...i will tell you where he was and what he was doing.Besides organizing beauty contests for little girls he was busy making money for himself in the arab world and any where somebody could answer his call,he didnt give a f... about america except his own america.Now as soon he saw a black president he was suddenly endowed with great ideas and powers to save america from china. Suddenly he was using the word stupid,idiot,incompitent, etc on a president with only one year in office...Now if that is not racist i dont know what is .Honestly i will never see this guy the same way again.Now i know his core i will never respect him ever again.I thought he was a big boy but he is just another bigot and i am not even african american.
This might have something to do with the fact that the President submitted his official birth certificate, than humiliated Trump at the White House Correspondent 's dinner, and finished him off by announcing the death of Osama bin Laden while interrupting an episode of Celebrity Apprentice. There's no coming back from that.
Surely no one took him seriously, right?..........right?
Excuse me? He's confident if he ran he would win, but he won't because? How unAmerican to know you could be elected preseident, meaning most Americans would want you to be President, and not doing so. How selfish of him. What a jerk, to put it more accuratly.