Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says that former President Donald Trump would have a good shot in his third presidential bid if he puts his focus on the future rather than the past.
The former president, after months of hinting at a 2024 run, formally announced his bid on Nov. 15 in a prime-time speech at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, outlining a vision for “America’s comeback” that includes stronger foreign policy, lower taxes, fewer regulations, and supply chain independence.
Gingrich, a contributor to The Epoch Times, thought that the tone and the substance of the speech were “very positive” and “moved him in the right direction.”
“If he is a candidate focused on the future, and he’s a candidate focused on big solutions, and he’s a candidate focused on bringing us together, he will do very, very well,” Gingrich told The Epoch Times.
On the other hand, arguing over the 2020 election outcome and “being divisive” would be counterproductive to Trump’s campaign, Gingrich said.
Overall, Gingrich thinks Trump had “stuck to the script” in the hour-long address.
While he has heard complaints about Trump being “low key” in the speech, Gingrich believes it was the right step for the former president.
“I think it’s good for him to come across as somebody who has thought about things and who is bringing, not just energy, but also some wisdom [as] to what America needs to get done,” he said, describing it as “a reasonably good start.”
“He’s the guy who has all the advantages. If he does well, he will become the nominee and probably president,” Gingrich said.
“The nice thing about politics is it really is a performance test. You have to go out there and you have to actually do it.”
Long Road Ahead
But Trump still has a long road ahead of him to the Oval Office.
By Eva Fu
