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
He was afraid if he did become elected his hair piece would get blown off while getting on Marine 1.
Of course Trump is not running for president.
He is a just another media whore!
Had he ever become president he would have driven the U.S.A. into being the biggest Banana Republic in the world.
TG...he is a POS anyway...
Lets get on to some REAL canidates...
Opps guess there are none yet...come on R's...STOP with the Plain Cheesburger candidates...
Trump is such a moron!!!
America's biggest Empty Barrel is down the road. Time for the country's second biggest Empty Barrel (or Vice Empty Barrel if you prefer) to step up to the plate. Come on, Sarah. Your turn!
Donald Chump!!
Does anyone remember Pat Paulsen?????
Trump's credibility is OVER, now his nothing but a fat, white, comb-over, birther, FOOL!
He was never really going to run but paid by a political organization to do the things he did. Question is, which orgainzation Dem or Rep? He really did benefit both but I am leaning toward Dems paying him since he did the most good for them!
...and where are the Navy Seals when you need them?
Did anyone really thought that "the Donald" would run for President? LOL LOL lOL. How naive are some people in this country.
who wrote that speech because he surely did not (why) because it made sence something he has none of
Trump may have won, "by a hair"... piece!
ObamaMama, That doesnt stop the incompetent one that already wanders around the White House calling himself the president.
I glad that circus has left town.
I kind of liked him – at least he was honest in that it was obvious what you would get if you voted for him. None of this "hope" and "vision" stuff while secretly making deals and destroying the country.
The Right wing fringe will fall for anything.
Haha what ever he know he going to lose... and he going to fell retarded for talking smack about the President
Trump made a mockery of the political process and of the Republican party for his own self promotion. To promote a TV show! My suggestion is that people learn from this, they learn that slogans and hoopla is not leadership. I hope the days of the birthers and the tea party are over. It's time to really understand what this country needs, study up, learn and participate in real leadership and not this reality show nonsense.
There was never an ice cubes chance of him running for any elected office...no way he will ever release any financials..or come up with an original idea for that matter. This was all about his "Celebrity Apprentice" ratings...he"ll be back again in 2016 with the same tired schtick.
The Hawaiian investigation fiasco producing nothing but hot air, his broken promise to release his financial records, and his inability to roll with the punches at the White House Correspondents' dinner confirmed his unfitness for the most powerful political position in our country. To his credit, he spared himself and this nation further embarrassment by pulling out before making more of a fool of himself than he already had done.
Haha @ vet in Texas. Yes, the Bears are who we thought they were! :).
No Donald Nooooooooooooo!!! Please run! Late night comedy talk shows were getting way too funny because of you!!!
This stupid man love himself so much, what polls is he leading...of the most hilarious one!!??
As long as this forum is open, I'd like to thank Tronald Dump for wasting everyone's time....and add my sentiments to please just GO AWAY!