WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has shown every indication that he will run for president in 2024.The FBI raided his home in Florida on Monday,and he is determined to jump into the race, potentially speeding up the timetable.
"He's running now, even if he wasn't running before," said a person close to the former president who wasn't authorized to speak on record. "It makes him angry that they can do this to him. One way to stop it is to take control of the government again." , may be in a stronger position to argue that the federal investigation was politically motivated to harm him in a possible confrontation with President Joe Biden.
Another motivation for running is that if Mr. Trump wins, Mr. Trump will not be indicted due to the Justice Department's longstanding practice of not indicting a sitting president for crimes. He will also regain the power to hire and fire his FBI and Justice Department officials who have great influence over who is investigated and prosecuted.
None of these realities are lost on Trump, the sources said.
"They fear he will one day announce that he will run for president in 2024," said Lara, the former president's daughter-in-law. Trump said on her Fox News "And it's a very convenient way to throw some more mud at Donald Trump, as if he hasn't done enough yet." He told News that Trump and his team of attorneys were cooperating with authorities, and that the FBI "confiscated documents" in its "unannounced raids." A source familiar with the matter said the raid was related to classified information Trump allegedly brought from his White House to his Palm Beach resort in January 2021.
House searched. He wasn't there at the time. He was seen leaving a New York City skyscraper on Monday night.
Trump's allies quickly caught on to the idea that he was being persecuted.
"Suddenly, 30 agents descended on Mara's Lago," Trump's son Eric told Fox his news. "You know who this is from — this is from one place and one building, and that's the White House in Washington, D.C. They've killed the man they see as their greatest threat. I want to attack — Biden's biggest threat, and that's exactly Donald J. Trump.”
A White House official told NBC News that the White House had no prior notice of the search.
No high-ranking candidate wants to run for office while dodging federal investigation. But in Trump's case, escalating legal troubles are consistent with the narrative he's been telling since announcing his candidacy in 2015. Trump is an outsider whose populist charm threatens the political system.
"They have been chasing President Trump as a candidate, as president, and now as a former president," tweetedRepublican South Dakota Gov. Noem. "It is un-American to use the criminal justice system in this way."
At this early stage, federal agents obtained a search warrant, broke into the former president's home, and It is difficult to predict the impact from the unprecedented news of opening a personal safe. Sensing Trump's vulnerability, Republicans could challenge him in the 2024 party nomination race. The Republican National Committee has asked Trump not to announce his candidacy until after the November midterm elections, said a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.
"The FBI raided Trump's beloved Mar-a-Lago, tearing up the 2024 GOP primary. The Trump era is over and it's everyone's ball," said the GOP. Donor Dan Everhart said, "The traffic jam of Republican candidates waiting to see if Trump will run has just burst. Wait no more." There is also the possibility of The government's actions could provoke a backlash that could turn to Trump's advantage. Fox News' Cylon shows that Trump supporters may try to capitalize on this development.
"The effect of this is to make him a martyr," said the former Justice Department official, who requested anonymity to speak more freely. "It will elevate Trump and make people turn to him."