In a startling move to the political world, billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump formally announced a run for President earlier today, submitting his paperwork to the Federal Election Commission to run in the Republican primary.
Readers at IPR will note that Trump explored a run for President on the Reform Party line in 2000. In addition, he considered running for office in 1988, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
Even Roger Stone, the infamous New York political consultant who advised Kristin Davis’ gubernatorial run in 2010, may have been surprised by the quick time frame of the decision. He told POLITICO in a recent interview that, “Any discussion of his running for president is not nearly that far along.”
Former Independent Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura was enthusiastic, recounting his first impression of Trump as “this guy [who] knows how to do business.” Trump and Ventura appear to have a positive relationship dating back to Wrestlemania during the 1990s.
1988 Libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul, who endured criticism from the host of the once-popular television show “The Apprentice” at CPAC this year, was more dismissive. “I don’t know how many elections he’s won so far himself,” Paul told one pundit during a CNN interview.
It appears that Trump has thus far won zero elections.
Republican Political Report !?
April Fools you du%@#$$*$
if only evryday dat aint April Fools Dya’d be Halloween
Years from know, you will be congratulated for your foresight in identifying the Republican Conservatives as the next American Third Party, up their with the American Phalangist Party and the Interdependent Third World Party.
Years from knowing what was said here,
Clint Eastwood has just e-mailed the LP national office: “Trump’s announcement makes my day.
I’m seeking the Libertarian nomination. My running mate will be Ivana. And Wayne, you’re fired.”
Oh geez. There goes some of the alternative candidate media attention. I hope he drops out and doesn’t pull a Ross Perot.
I don’t know how much of a joke this is, he talks about it and is actually headlining an Iowa Republican fundraiser this summer.
Come on, you guys are better than this, especially when we have so many figures in third parties worthy of lampoon.
Trump has always seemed like a cartoon character in- the-flesh to me. How can anyone take him seriously?
“It appears that Trump has thus far won zero elections.”
So what? Most alternative party candidates have won zero elections, including Libertarian candidates. Is it supposed to be a bad thing if a candidate for President hasn’t been a politician?
JP @8:
The same way they took Ronald Regan seriously is how I figure it.
What day is it today?
For those who do not think this news warrants coverage on IPR, I noted that Trump explored a run for President with the Reform Party in 2000. His longtime advisor is Roger Stone, who was involved with the ’00 run, Golisano’s runs in New York, and Davis in 2010. And the article cites Ventura and Ron Paul’s views on the matter, more prominent third party politicos. So he may be running as a Republican, but it merits interest in the alternative party community.
I agree.
Jokes aside Trump is testing the “waters”. I’m thinking the water is a little cool. Ego especially a rather large EGO can cause a person to throw their wig into the race anyway. Er, hat into the ring.
In a related development, Trump has announced his hair is his running mate…
DS @12:
Agree.
We need to vet the news that directly affects us, not just the news about us.