Florida Man Makes Announcement

"Florida Man Makes Announcement" has to be the funniest newspaper headline this week ....

Donald Trump 2024?

.... and no, its not one of my usual Florida man stories, that usually delight me so much.

No, it was from the The New York Post in a bottom-of-front-page footer, following Donald Trumps totally predictable announcement that he intends to run again for the presidency in 2024.

What made the headline funnier is that it was in a Robert Maxwell (News Corp) owned newspaper, and was alongside The Wall Street Journal editorial board calling Trump a "loser," while Fox News actually cut away during Trump's televised announcement, and signified that Maxwell and News Corp were no longer allies of Trump. 

With an ego the size of an elephant, this most damaging of US ex-presidents, was a actually certainty to attempt to run again (despite being potentially aged 78 if he won the presidential election) .... however he does so without the expected "Red Wave" mid term election successes, that he had hoped would reaffirm him as 'The Man' in the Republican party. So whilst he most certainly retains formidable support amongst the grass root Republican party membership, he may well face very serious challengers, from far younger politicians, such as the touted presidential nomination run by Florida's re-elected governor Ron DeSantis.

He declared that he was campaigning to make "Make America Great And Glorious Again" .... eek! Now I don't recall anything in his first term that 'Made America Great Again' (MAGA) in his first term.

• He cosied up to Russia's autocratic President Putin.
• Similarly with North Korea's Kim Jong-un.
  
• Wound up Mexico with his proposed border wall .... which was largely un-built.
  
• Fell out with his NATO allies over defence spending (which he was right about).
• Fell out with democratic leaders world wide.
  
• Mishandled the Covid crisis by downplaying it for far too long.
• He totally skewed the Supreme Court balance, which has led to the overturning of Roe v Wade which has so damaged women's rights.
  
• Then he left office disgracefully, after being legally and fairly beaten by President Joe Biden (who almost any other Republican candidate would have beaten). His refusal to accept defeat, led to the 6th of January 2021 attack on the US Capitol ... a blot on the USA's democracy.
  

Not so great really ..... but that doesn't deter his most ardent supporters. However, those in his party less enthused by him, and independents who voted for him last time, may now chose to simply not vote for him if he becomes the Republican nominee in 2024 .... that could well mean another defeat in 2024, making him a two time loser.

So the path ahead for Donald Trump is strewn with obstacles and risks, such as the legal cases (at least four high-profile investigations could go sour on him), and possible party rival challenges, as well the political baggage he now brings, as the  US electorate now knows what a Trump presidency looks like.

So yes, a Florida man makes an announcement ....