President Donald Trump is discussing possibly launching a 2024 campaign to retake the White House on Inauguration Day and skipping the swearing-in of his successor, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
There is “preliminary planning” underway for a Jan. 20 event to kick off a new Trump bid, the people familiar with the discussions said, though it’s possible the president could make the announcement earlier as no final decisions have been made.
Regardless of the timing of a campaign announcement, Trump is not expected to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, according to the people familiar with the discussions. He also does not plan to invite Biden to the White House or even call him, they said.
Biden transition officials said Trump’s attendance at the inauguration, or lack thereof, won’t affect their plans.
But Trump is keen on the idea of formally marking a 2024 campaign on Inauguration Day because that’s when he filed for re-election in 2017, people familiar with the discussions said.
Trump has recently told some advisers he wants to announce a 2024 campaign shortly after the Electoral College meets Dec. 14, the people familiar with the discussions said. If he were to announce earlier, he could still hold a campaign-style event or rally Jan. 20. The Daily Beast first reported that Trump might hold a rally on Inauguration Day.