Trump vows to make ‘very big announcement’ next week – and repeatedly hints he will run in 2024
Donald Trump has repeatedly teased that he will run for president again in 2024 – and is vowing to make a “very big announcement” next week in Florida.
Speaking at a rally in Ohio the night before polls open for the midterms, Mr Trump said: “I’m going to be making a very big announcement on Tuesday, November 15 at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach”.
Without giving too much away, he added: “We want nothing to detract from the importance of tomorrow.”
Election day begins in the US – live updates
While the former president did not provide further details about the announcement, many have been predicting that he could announce a run for 2024 to benefit from the expected Republican gains in the midterm elections.
In his two-hour speech, Mr Trump urged Americans to vote Republican “in a giant red wave”, adding that the country has “gone crazy” under Joe Biden’s administration.
The former president also said he would “end” Nancy Pelosi’s political career and criticised immigration at the US southern border calling it “wide open”.
Americans head to the polls today to vote in midterm elections, which could alter the balance of power in Washington and across the country.
The results will determine Mr Biden’s success and popularity and will either see the Democrats maintain control of Congress or lose it to the Republicans.
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US Midterms: What’s at stake?
Some of the key issues dominating the elections include abortion, gun crime, education and immigration.
Speaking at his closing rally in Maryland on Monday night, Mr Biden urged Americans to “get out and vote”, adding: “This is going to shape what the next couple of decades will look like.”
Appearing alongside First Lady Jill Biden, the president warned his supporters that if Republicans take control of the House, “they’ll get rid of everything we’ve just done”.
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Trump’s timing concerns some Republicans
While Mr Trump did not announce a presidential bid last night, some Republicans feared that a launch before Tuesday’s vote could in fact boost Democrat turnout.
The Washington Post reports that Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were among those who argued against an announcement before the vote.
Mr Trump has been increasingly explicit about his plans to launch a third presidential campaign, saying in recent days that he would “very, very, very probably” run again and would be formalising his intentions “very, very soon”.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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