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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You can all laugh at the donald but give the man credit . I dont see anyone else standing up for the people of the united states .
He only proves that having money $$$$ can't change..STUPIDITY STUPID !!!!
DUH!!! How is this even news? Everyone in their right mind knew this was just a media stunt. What a joke.
I still want to see Mr. Trump long form birth certificate.
Thank Gawd!! This hairless bimbo needs to stay where he belongs.... snowy the innocent consumer.
I cracked up laughing when I heard the news he might consider running for Pres 2012. What a freakin joke!
donald trump is the village idiot.
Well, I imagine Donald Trump would understand a thing or two about "unsustainable debt structure," having declared bankruptcy on more than one occasion, no?
He was NEVER planning on running for president... He just took advantage of the fact that CNN and its competitors are gullible enough to spend weeks donating free advertising for his third-rate reality show. Why don't you guys just go back to showing youtube videos all day? Watching a squirrel ride a skateboard on the national news is asinine but at least it doesn't poison the national political discourse.
Of course, when it comes to putting his money where is political mouth is, Trump runs away – again. He is nothing but hot air...necessary to inflate his ego. Hey Donald, was the White House Correspondents' dinner too much for ya? Or do you not like this whole personal finances disclosure concept? Good riddance! Now, bring on the viable and competent Republican presidential contenders – of whom there are numerous. Americans of all political colors deserve a competent field to choose from.
a man so f-ugly requires oodles of cash to get "......." ......ya know
God is good!
i wish he ran so we could have continued laughing at him for the next 18 months.
Donald "I coulda been a contenda" Chump just didn't want to have to eat crow when he lost to Obama!
What a piece of trash this guy is....
I love this moron. No matter how phony or ignorant his actions, he always finds a way to spin what he does as evidence of his genius. A true businessman...
Another episode in the continuing drama of 'The Mediocrity of America ' The only people who took Donald Trump seriously are the same undereducated losers that think Sarah Palin should be in the White House. If you have a 6th grade education in America, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump are your guys!!! It's the same losers that go to a Charlie Sheen concert and expect a show. "Winning!" No how about "Losing!" Or losers because this was truly the best display of 'The Mediocrity of America.' The only other people that took this sideshow and carnival barker seriously was the media. Which is a sideshow in itself. Chuck Todd and NBC was all over the silly birther issue like it was the killing of Osama Bin Laden. All because of a loser named Donald Trump. Is this the best of our news organizations or once again 'The Mediocrity of America?'
What a shame for this country.
You know, he still never disclosed his finances or his tax forms. What a charlatan.
Too bad Trump isn't going to run. The entertainment value he would provide would spice up the next election! I would love to see him debate Pres Obama!
Aw, that is too bad. I was hoping he would run. The Republican party's humiliating fall would have been Trump's greatest contribution to our country.
Trump needs to audited by the IRS. An audit of this charlatan may reveal his shady financial dealings. He will not run for President because his business transactions will totally scrutinized.
Throughout all of his circus days early on, Trump kept bragging about how well he'd been doing in the polls and how impressed he was with how many Americans supported him. Why isn't he commenting now on the polls showing 2/3 of Americans don't believe he'd make a good President? He also kept saying how surprised we'd all be when he did make the announcement....so far, I'm not surprised. What an obnoxious wind bag!!
Aw, come on! He was the only one worthwhile to watch in the over-extended media coverage of the 2012 race. And by worthwhile, I mean very entertaining. Who are we supposed to laugh at now? The media has already exhausted the laughing stock that is Palin. Several media-trumped 'rising stars' have already imploded. (see Sanford, Jindal, etc.) Although Gingrich may still have some comic value...
Thank you lord!
I am sad to hear that Donald. I really wish you had ran for president. I would have voted for you.
And like we all ready didn't know this 6 weeks ago.