Donald Trump hints at fresh run for White House in 90-minute speech
Donald Trump has hinted he will run again for President in 2024 during a vintage 90-minute speech at a Republican rally.
Trump used the speech at a North Carolina Republican campaign event to attack infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, peddle false claims that he really won the 2020 Presidential election and denounce China.
Trump falsely said his defeat in last year’s election was the “the crime of the century” and said “we’re going to lay the groundwork to make sure Republicans once again carry the great state of North Carolina in a number, a year I look very much forward to – 2024”.
“Our movement is far from over,” he said.
“In fact, it is just getting started.”
Event organisers estimate that around 1,200 people attended the rally, which was the former President’s first formal public appearance in months.
Trump has begun to tease his supporters about running for President again in 2024 and is expected to start holding more rallies in the lead-up to next years’ mid-term elections.
The former President has been vocal in telling the Republican party to only select candidates that have shown allegiance to him.
“The survival of America depends on our ability to elect Republicans at every level starting with the mid-terms next year,” he said.
Trump again repeated claims that Covid-19 originated in a Wuhan lab, a theory now not discounted by Joe Biden, and said China should pay $10 trillion in reparations to countries across the globe for the pandemic.
He also hit out at Fauci, a common target for Trump-supporting Republicans, saying that he was “not a great doctor” and that he has been “wrong on every issue”.
Trump also aimed his attacks at Biden who he called “the most radical left-wing administration in history”.
“As we gather tonight our country is being destroyed before our very eyes,” he said.