Donald Trump was set to launch a new White House bid on Tuesday from a gilt-edged ballroom at his Florida resort, hoping to box out potential Republican rivals and return his false claims of election fraud to the center of U.S. politics. Trump's announcement, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (0200 GMT on Wednesday) at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach follows a disappointing showing in last week's midterm congressional elections that many Republicans blame on him.
Hours before the speech, supporters began filling a ballroom decorated with several chandeliers and lined with dozens of American flags. The unusually early launch may well be aimed at fending off potential challengers for the party's nomination in 2024, including rising star Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 44, and Trump's own former vice president, Mike Pence, 63.
It comes as Republicans closed in on the 218 seats they need to take a majority in the 435-seat House of Representatives. Sources close to Trump, 76, said he planned to push ahead despite mixed results from his endorsements this year, with losses by celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Don Bolduc in New Hampshire contributing to Republicans' failure to win a majority in the U.S. Senate.
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