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
Well DUH! I'm sorry he's not running. He would have destroyed every bit of the GOPs chances for winning – even against Pat Paulsen (God rest his comic soul). And of course the parting shot, 'he knows he could have easily won'. NOT. He loves business better? what a huckster. No couth, no education, no morals, no sense of diplomacy. Just an egotistical grandiose, narcissistic (with a dash of anti-social) personality disorder. what's not to luv?????????
Lawrence O'Donnell called the shot: that he wouldn't run and that he would announce on the 16th. Over a month ago he called it.
Dear Donald,
I hope (and believe) you are vain enough to be reading this article and subsequent posts about your favorite subject—you.
Nobody with half a brain ever believed your BS about running. Your showboating is so obvious and shallow it makes P.T. Barnum pale by comparison. The last thing this country needs is a charlatan such as yourself in the oval office.
Your business ethics are pretty despicable, but your mockery (once again) of the greatest office in the country and the sacred institution of democracy really takes the cake. Please do us all a favor and stop annoying us all with your antics and blatant self promotion.
LOL. He decided he could not stand the heat, so he ran out the kitcken. Serioulsy, we all know Trump was just blowing smoke out his behind. Reality has indeed set in. He can read..he knows how to read polls, and America let him have it.
By the way, why is Trumps face orange? He and Boener seems to be sharing the same tanning booth or face cream.
Too bad, this would have made for great comedy. But we still have Caribou Barbie and the other nut Michele Bachmann. The GOP is hopeless
Mr. Trump – You're fired!
Well, this outcome was about as expected as the sun in the morning and the moon at night. I really do feel bad for those of you who truly thought he was running and would be the nation's savior. Well, OK, not THAT bad – you really should have seen this one coming a mile away yourselves! The question is, who will lead in the republican polls now?
Donald Trump.........you're fired!
Sure Dominican Mama. We all KNOW how "accomplished" the dolt in the White House was don't we?
Oh, no...He "pulled a Perot!" I kind of figured he'd do that. Well at least he did it early. BTW, government is big business Mr. Trump and the stock market is legalized gambling...a lot like gamling in a Casino. You really would have felt right at home.
Thank God! who would stand behind this big mouth ego . i wouldnt vote for hIm just because of him hiding behind his hair. If you cant be honest abnut yourself how can you be trusted. Id bet you claim to have 12 inches hanging. I really like the part about getting beiind the best canidate. You havent voted in 30 years ! No one wants to here your oppinion on anything. . Fair trade with china . If you had something to sell besides hot air you too would be having it made in china . Where have you been the past 40 years when we had lieing white presidents. Guess those white foaks Who sold us to china and mexico had your blessings . Dont call us . .......
As a nobody, I have neither the education or the resources to seriously take a shot at the Office. I care as much as anybody, and think deeply about issues both domestic and global. Thank you, Mr. Trump! I will hold you to your promise of continuing to speak out and to "expressing the opinions that so many of (us) share yet don't have a medium through which to articulate."
some good news for a change
According to the polls, the American people told Trump to go back to his day job.
lifelong Republican Secretary of Defense Gates: "Obama's decision on Osama Bin Laden was perhaps the most courageous decision of any President I have ever seen"
And that about did it!
There are two things this narcissistic megalomaniac is unable to pass: 1) A camera to stand in front of and run his mouth and 2) a mirrow to stand in front of and admire himself. If he was all that convinced he can win the presidency, he would have done it. Thank God he's gone. Now if the quitter Palin would just come to the same realization, there just might be hope for the United States. But she's too stupid to.
It just goes to show how delusional he is, there is NO WAY he would have won the nomination, let alone the general election.
BWAHAHAHA! Gee who would ever have guessed? Donald Chump: ALL BARK NO BITE!
So long, D-bag.
The G.O.P. can celebrate now.
Good ..all those candles I lit to the saints..worked
He appeals to the lowest common denominator, look at the people who attend his functions.
He's s loser ... and he has filed bankruptcy before with some of his companies
GOOD! Now go and crawl back under your rock.
You have once again wasted the time of many people. Not mine though, because i pay no attention to you.
You are a shameful little man.
"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."
What Trump wasn't smart enough to figure out is that those millions were Democrats insuring another 4 years for Obama.
This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. It was to generate publicity for Celebrity Apprentice and nothing more. His outrageous comments got him on the front page of many web sites and got him interviews. He got what he wanted.