Trump has told associates he will run again in 2024 if he's healthy enough, report says
- Former President Trump will run for president in 2024 if he's healthy, Politico reports.
- Trump told Fox News in April that he is "very seriously" considering a presidential bid in 2024.
- Some congressional Republicans are anxious about Trump running again, Politico said.
Former President Donald Trump has told close associates that he plans to run for the White House again in 2024 provided that he's in good health, Politico reported on Thursday.
The former president's standing in the party took a fall in the wake of the January 6 insurrection on the US Capitol.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, who served as White House physician under Trump, also recently told Insider's Kimberly Leonard that he believes Trump will run again.
"He has been saying he's going to. He's seriously considering it - he's probably going to do it - so we'll see what happens," Jackson said.
Outside of his die-hard supporters, however, Politico reports that some congressional Republicans are anxious about a potential Trump 2024 campaign.
"President Trump did a lot of good. But he squandered a lot of his legacy after what happened after Nov. 3. And I think that's a shame," Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told Politico. "Running for president, you're under a lot of scrutiny. And all I can say is there's a lot to talk about."
Insider's Tom LoBianco reported in April that Trump, who will turn 75 on June 14, has shed 15 pounds already through regular golf outings and cutting back on high-sugar snacks like M&Ms in his post-presidency. Visitors to Mar-a-Lago have taken notice of the changes in Trump's appearance and overall health.
Despite his diminished stature within the party, Trump still plans on using his significant influence to be a kingmaker in the 2022 midterms - in some ways that could end up harming the GOP in key races.
Trump has publicly denigrated Gov. Brian Kemp, one of the most vulnerable GOP governors up for reelection in 2022, over his certifying the 2020 presidential election for Biden.
And despite the pleas from Sen. Rick Scott (who currently chairs the Senate GOP's campaign arm) for Trump to stay out of Senate primaries, Trump has already publicly attacked current Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and Attorney General Mark Brnovich, two strong potential GOP contenders to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in 2022.
Trump told Fox News in April that he is "very seriously" considering another presidential bid in 2024 - and for now, he's frozen much of the rest of the prospective field from planning their runs.
If Trump decides not to run, other possible frontrunners include former Vice President Mike Pence, Sens. Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Rick Scott, and Tom Cotton, Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Kristi Noem of South Dakota, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Another possible 2024 contender, former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, recently told the Ruthless podcast that he won't be waiting on Trump.
"I'm not going to defer to anyone if I decide that's what I want to do and that I think I'm the best option for the party and for the country," he said.