Donald Trump is "very strongly" mulling a bid for the White House in 2016, and is inclined to throw his hat into the ring if he doesn't see somebody else step forward who he thinks is up to the job.
"I am considering it very strongly. A lot of people think that I have fun with it, that I'm playing games, that I enjoy the process. I do enjoy the process to a certain extent, but the country is in serious, serious trouble," he said at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening.
C-SPAN
posted video of his remarks.
He cited America's $18 trillion debt as a top concern, noting that the country was losing out economically to China and other countries.
Trump said he would be making a firm decision about whether to run sometime in March, April, or May. He also acknowledged that he would be appearing in January in the all-important primary state of Iowa for a political event.
"I've dealt in politics all of my life," he said. "I'm a Republican, but I'll support people that I think are really going to be good. Frankly, I think we need someone very good very fast or we are going to be in very big trouble as a country."
He also hinted that he would likely be a highly popular candidate.
"I have a big voice. I have millions and millions of followers on Twitter and Facebook, and when I say something … most people do like it," he said.
"Four years ago, I was leading in the polls and I was beating everybody in the polls and what happened is, I just really was loving what I do," he said, referring to his decision in 2011 not to move forward with a widely anticipated bid.
"I love what I do. I would rather do what I'm doing than run for president. But I also love the country more, and I think that unless I see somebody that's outstanding, I would be very much inclined to do it."
Trump also said he would be best placed to address problems with the U.S economy, which he thinks is the top priority for the nation.
"The thing I like best, and I think the thing I am best at, is the economy and how to put people to work, and that's what we need in this country," he said.
Trump said that even though running for office would interrupt his role managing his business, he feels he has an organization in place that would allow him to take a step back.
"I have a great company, with tremendously talented people," he said. "I also have [my] children, three of my five children are in the company ... They have done a fantastic job."
Trump also criticized the release of the CIA interrogation report and its $40 million price tag.
"Do we have to announce the torture report? How did this report cost $40 million?" he said.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.