Trump says he won't run again if he loses in November

WASHINGTON,— Former President Donald Trump stated that he will not pursue another presidential run if he loses the upcoming November 5 election. In an interview released Sunday, Trump, 78, said, “That will be it,” when asked if he would consider running again in four years should he fall short in his current bid.

Speaking to Sharyl Attkisson on the program “Full Measure,” Trump emphasized, “No, I don’t. I think that will be it. I don’t see that at all. Hopefully, we will be successful.”

Trump, who previously served as the 45th president, is facing a highly competitive race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Polls indicate that both candidates are in a close contest, especially in key battleground states that are expected to determine the outcome of the election. While nationwide polls show Harris gaining some momentum, the race remains tight.

This is Trump’s third straight bid for the White House. He officially began his re-election effort for the 2020 election on the day of his inauguration in 2017, and later announced his latest presidential bid in November 2022.

Despite losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that the defeat was due to widespread voter fraud. He is currently facing multiple federal and state criminal charges related to attempts to overturn those election results, though he has denied any wrongdoing.

Trump has framed these legal challenges as politically motivated attacks against him, while adopting increasingly dire rhetoric about what might happen if he loses in 2024.

In addition to his political activities, Trump has launched several business ventures during his most recent campaign, including media companies, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and branded merchandise such as sneakers and cryptocurrencies.

Kamala Harris, 59, has portrayed this election as a pivotal moment for the future of American democracy. Her campaign has largely focused on addressing everyday concerns such as family expenses and housing affordability.

When asked if his time out of office had helped him reflect on his allies and who he could trust, Trump remarked that it might have been easier if he had remained in office without interruption. “The advantage, more than anything, is that it revealed just how bad they really were,” he said.

Speaking from his Florida resort, Trump also commented that it was “too early” to make any decisions about potential cabinet appointments if he were to win the election in November.

(With files from Reuters)