| Advertisement |
Four years after Donald Trump hinted at a run in the 2012 presidential race, his camp said he's looking to throw his hat in for 2016. The real estate mogul has spent $1 million researching the run for office, the New York Post reported.
Advertisement
Trump, 66, dismissed claims that his 2012 efforts were for publicity -- and that this time, he is serious.
"We did not just spend $1 million on this research for it just to sit on my bookshelf," Trump's special counsel Michael Cohen said.
Cohen said Trump has not made a firm decision on the run, but that Trump is "exactly what this country needs." Turnout at Trump's political speeches is at an all-time high, according to Inquisitr.
Trump himself has hinted at a run in his speeches, and told an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference that his Republican party is in "serious trouble."
He also said that presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a mistake he won't make himself.
“If Mitt made one mistake, it’s that he didn’t talk enough about his success,” Trump said. “They want a leader who’s successful.”
Trump is known for his multi-billion-dollar empire built on the real estate and hotel business, but has been criticized for being abrasive -- especially after his appearances on reality shows, including his own "The Apprentice."
If he chooses to run, Trump would, by law, have to relinquish control of his company or put it in a trust.
Should Trump choose to move forward with his 2016 run, critics will likely bring him under fire for lack of political experience and controversial statements on foreign policy and pressuring President Obama to release his birth certificate.
He will also face-off against GOP-nominee hopefuls Chris Christie and Marco Rubio. Were he to earn the nomination, early polls put possible Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in the lead.
