Donald Trump opens 2024 White House bid, says he is ‘more angry’ and ‘more committed’ than ever
- The former US president made stops in New Hampshire and South Carolina, marking the first campaign events since announcing his latest run in November
- ‘We’re starting. We’re starting right here as a candidate for president,’ Trump told party leaders at the New Hampshire Republicans’ annual meeting in Salem
Former US President Donald Trump hit the campaign trail on Saturday for the first time since announcing his bid to reclaim the White House in 2024, visiting two early-voting states and brushing aside criticism that his run was off to a slow start.
“I’m more angry now, and I’m more committed now, than I ever was,” Trump, a Republican, told a small crowd at the New Hampshire Republican Party’s annual meeting in Salem, before heading to Columbia, South Carolina, for an appearance alongside his leadership team in the state.
New Hampshire and South Carolina are among the first four states to hold presidential nominating contests, giving them outsized influence as candidates jockey for position.
In contrast to the raucous rallies in front of thousands of devotees that Trump often holds, Saturday’s events were comparatively muted. In Columbia, Trump spoke to about 200 attendees, with Governor Henry McMaster and US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina flanking him.
Once the undisputed centre of gravity in the Republican Party, an increasing number of elected officials have expressed concerns about Trump’s ability to beat Democratic President Joe Biden, if he decides to run again as is widely expected.
Numerous Republicans are considering whether to launch their own White House bids, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, widely seen as the biggest threat to Trump.
Several top Republicans in both states that Trump visited on Saturday – including New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley – are weighing presidential campaigns. Many high-ranking Republicans in New Hampshire, where Trump’s 2016 victory confirmed his status as a top contender, say they are looking for an alternative.