Donald Trump formally launched the US presidential election bid World news

Donald Trump entered the 2024 US presidential race on Tuesday, making official what he has been laughing about for months as many Republicans prepare to leave their longtime standard-bearer.

Minutes before his appearance at an event announcing his candidacy, the Trump campaign filed a federal document to announce he is running again, becoming the first major candidate from either party to formally announce.

“America’s comeback begins now,” the 76-year-old president told supporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Trump’s paperwork with the Federal Election Commission was filed 23 minutes before the scheduled start of Trump’s announcement speech, outlining his campaign plan for fundraising.

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With his announcement Trump is the first major candidate from either party to officially announce.

Yet the timing couldn’t be worse for Republicans. Candidates endorsed by Trump floundered in key races in last week’s midterm elections, as voters rejected those who denied voting and others with extreme positions on social issues such as rights abortion and education.

That’s Republicans’ chance to take back the U.S. Senate and leave them short of a major majority they hope to win in the House, although they came within one seat of taking control Monday night, nearly one week after the close of polls across the country.