NEW YORK—Former President Donald Trump is again hinting about a third presidential run despite some resistance from his inner circle, saying that he’ll keep people in “massive suspense.”
“We’ll be making a statement on Tuesday night, we’ll see,” he told a crowd of hundreds on the night of Nov. 13 at an annual gala hosted by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), a major Jewish nonprofit based in New York that advocates for Israel’s causes.
“We’ll keep you in this massive suspense: ‘Oh gee, I wonder what he’s gonna do?’ Well, we’ll defend our interests and our shared security, we’ll advance the cause of liberty, and we’ll protect our sovereignty, and we’ll secure borders.”
Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump said he would make a “big announcement” on Nov. 15 at his Mar-a-Lago resort, anticipating that a projected “red wave” would boost his expected presidential bid. But the election results proved disappointing to Republicans, who didn’t manage to gain control of the Senate and face the prospect of only a slim majority in the House.
With some high-profile Republican candidates endorsed by Trump not faring as hoped during the midterms, the former president has faced heat from some within the party. Some have urged him to delay his announcement, while other allies, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) who cruised to reelection, have openly backed him.
Acknowledging that the midterm outcome wasn’t a total triumph, Trump said his endorsed candidates secured “a very big victory.” So far, at least 80 percent of the 254 candidates he endorsed have won.
At the Nov. 13 ceremony, ZOA President Morton Klein honored Trump with the Theodor Herzl Medallion award recognizing contributions to Israel. The prize has previously been awarded to dignitaries such as former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and former U.S. President Harry Truman.
By Eva Fu
