KEY POINTS

  • Trump "confides" in allies that he intends to run again only in case of "good health"
  • Rep. Ronny Jackson: Trump is seriously considering it
  • A GOP member says the former president's bid will be a "distraction"

Former President Donald Trump has teased plans to run for the White House again in 2024 in conversations with allies, sources with knowledge of the talks said.

The former president allegedly confided in Republican allies his intention to run for the presidency in 2024, only if he’s in good health, two sources close to Trump told Politico. His standing in the party took a hit after he "fueled" the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, who previously served as the White House physician under Trump, also said that he believes the former president 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 told The Business Insider.

"I just don't know right now who is going to pick up the mantle and who is going to lead as aggressively as he did, because he has just got a unique ability to do certain things and not worry about the second-order effects or what people think and most of us aren't wired that way but he is,” he added.

Trump had previously helped Jackson win the election for the 13th congressional district seat in Texas after endorsing him for the seat. The former president’s political ambitions, however, are making some congressional Republicans anxious, according to interviews conducted by Politico with 20 Republicans in both the House and Senate.

“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, R-Texas, told the publication. “Running for president, you’re under a lot of scrutiny. And all I can say is there’s a lot to talk about.”

“He’s one of the best presidents we’ve had in terms of policies. But having said that, if it were up to me, I would never have Trump on any ballot ever again because it’s such a distraction,” another House GOP member, who spoke on anonymity, said, adding: “I would love for him to play a behind-the-scenes role and not be on the ballot.”

Donald Trump has described the New York criminal investigations as "a continuation of the greatest political witch hunt in the history of our country"
Donald Trump has described the New York criminal investigations as "a continuation of the greatest political witch hunt in the history of our country" AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS