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Former President Donald Trump invited the press and MAGA faithful to Mar-a-Lago Tuesday evening for a “special announcement” that all but confirmed his ambitions to run for the White House in 2024.
The podium was set up with a dais surrounded by American flags and his original 2016 campaign motto, “Make America Great Again,” was written on giant blue signs on either side of it.
The stately ballroom with its lavish gold decorations and chandeliers was furnished with hundreds of gold chairs for the occasion.
Trump’s “special announcement” comes on the same day a new poll showed the ex-president has a commanding lead in a field of potential 2024 candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running his own White House president. campaign against Trump has yet to be ruled out.
The former president has responded by calling the governor “disloyal,” “average,” and “Ron DeSanctimonious,” amid a flurry of other insults.
Asked about that criticism on Tuesday, DeSantis suggested he was unfazed — but went out of his way to attack “the corporate media” more directly than the former president.
“When you lead, when you get things done, yes, you take incoming fire — that’s just the nature of it,” DeSantis said.
“I roll out of bed in the morning, I have corporate media outlets that just have a spasm about me getting up in the morning. And it’s constantly attacking, and this is exactly what happened.’
He continued, “I think what you learn is that all of that is just noise. And what really matters is: do you lead, do you face problems, do you deliver results for people and do you stand up for people? And if you do, none of that matters.’
But DeSantis added as a final jab, “At the end of the day, I would just tell people to look at last Tuesday night’s scoreboard.”
The ballroom at Mar-a-Lago was decorated Tuesday night for a “special announcement” as former President Donald Trump is expected to launch a new presidential bid
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, spoke to reporters at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night before the former president’s appearance
TV reporters prepare in Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom Tuesday night for former President Donald Trump to make his ‘special announcement’
One of former President Donald Trump’s guests at his “special announcement” Tuesday evening at Mar-a-Lago
Rows of gold chairs for former President Donald Trump’s guest were lined up in Mar-a-Lago’s ornate ballroom for the ex-President’s “special announcement”
Supporters also gathered outside Mar-a-Lago on the bridge to Palm Beach in anticipation of the announcement
A man dressed as Trump’s wall takes a selfie with another supporter at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night ahead of the former president’s ‘special announcement’
Hours before the former president took the stage, advisers and allies like Jason Miller, Boris Epshteyn and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell walked the room.
Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich was also in attendance.
Jason Miller told reporters Trump would lay out “all the campaign mechanisms” on Tuesday night.
“Right now, this is his vision, this is what his message is,” Miller said. “Tonight and this week it’s really about his message.”
He added that President Joe Biden, who is believed to be running for re-election but has not yet spoken out, is not making a fuss among his own party with the idea of a new campaign.
“Democrats aren’t too thrilled about his prospects, and you have President Trump with a strong, clear vision to get the economy back on track,” Miller said.
Lindell answered questions from the likes of DailyMail.com just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday — three hours before the show was due to start.
“Now if he says — announces he’s running, 70 percent of America wants him to run for president because he’s still our real president,” the entrepreneur said.
When asked about DeSantis’ possible challenge to Trump, Lindell scoffed, “Is that really you?”
“If he says he’s running – 100% even DeSantis, I think, will say yes, I support him because it’s a waste of anyone’s time to run against the best president we’ve ever had,” he later said.
Lindell, a prominent promoter of Trump’s 2020 voter fraud allegations, called the Republicans’ failure to achieve a red wave in the 2022 midterm elections “a joke” and a “setup” when DailyMail.com pointed to it. early.
Lindell said he believed the Senate Democratic result was evidence of yet another rigged election.
The GOP’s lackluster performance in the 2022 midterm elections caused some pause in the party over Trump’s announcement on Tuesday, even before the event began.
Established figures, including former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, turned against the former president for supporting fringe right-wing candidates who failed to gain traction with independent and moderate voters in key races across the country.
Enemies of the ex-president paid to fly planes over the private club and troll Trump with banners that included “You Lost Again Donald!” #DeSantis2014′ and ‘3X BIG LOSER’
But 47 percent of likely Republican voters still want Trump to top the list, according to a new Politico/Morning Consult post-election poll conducted Nov. 10-14.
DeSantis comes in second, behind Trump by double digits with 33 percent of the hypothetical vote.
Former Trump vice president Mike Pence polled just 5 percent, while several prominent Republicans hovered around 1 percent.
Outside, Mar-a-Lago supporters gathered in anticipation as enemies of the ex-president paid to fly planes over the private club and troll Trump with banners including “You Lost Again Donald!” #DeSantis2014′ and ‘3X BIG LOSER.’