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Donald Trump once again stood before his friends, fans and supporters to announce a second presidential bid at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night. But only some of the former president’s family members appeared to be there with him – including some members who questioned his election conspiracy theories. Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania, was front and center, hugging her husband as he shook hands with those at the front of the audience before his speech. Photos showed that Eric Trump’s second son, daughter-in-law Lara Trump and youngest child Barron Trump (16) were also present. Most interestingly, Mr Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser Jarrod Kushner was also there, even though he had previously said he did not agree with Mr Trump’s claims that he actually won the 2020 election. Kushner specifically distanced himself from Trump’s attempt to overturn the vote and later voluntarily testified before the investigative committee on Jan. 6. According to reports, he and his wife Ivanka Trump have tried to avoid Mr Trump’s appeals for their support in a second presidential run. But Ivanka herself was conspicuously absent from the campaign launch, later telling reporters she did not want to “get involved in politics” and subtly rejecting some of her father’s actions in office. She said: “I love my father very much. This time I choose to prioritize my young children and the privacy we create as a family. “I don’t intend to get involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, in the future I will do so outside the political arena. “I am grateful to have had the honor of serving the American people and will always be proud of the many accomplishments of our administration.” Trump’s eldest child, Donald Jr., meanwhile, was sailing in the western US and couldn’t make it back in time for the speech, though he tweeted vigorously in support of his father throughout. Trump’s daughter Tiffany was nowhere to be seen either – although it seems likely that, having married on Saturday, she is now on her honeymoon.
“Eric got more calls than any other person in history”
During his speech, Trump invited his wife Melania and son Eric to stand and applaud the audience. “I happen to have some guys in the front row – Get up, Eric!” Mr. Trump said. “I think he got more calls than any person in the history of our country. So unfair. “Al Capone got a lot less. Billy the kid got hardly any. Jesse James, no. Eric Trump… is a doctor of subpoenas. I appreciate the work you do and the abuse you’ve done, I really do.” Mr Trump then called Melania. “And it has not been a pleasant ride for our great First Lady. It was not a pleasant ride,” he said. “Stand up!” “I go home and he says, ‘You look angry and upset.’ I said, “just leave me alone!” he continued, adopting a consciously grumpy and gloomy voice for himself. “It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but she was a great First Lady and people love her.” The former president was widely expected to announce a second presidential run shortly before the midterm elections, but held off — reportedly due to interference from Republican allies who feared it would boost Democratic turnout. Since then, many in the party have blamed Mr Trump and his conspiracy theories for the GOP’s failure to secure a “red wave” despite high inflation and economic gloom. “Two years ago, when I left office, the United States was ready for its golden age,” Mr. Trump argued in his speech. “Our nation was at the pinnacle of power, prosperity and prestige, rising above all rivals, defeating all enemies and marching into the future, confident and so strong in four short years. “All the incoming administration had to do was just sit back and watch … but now we are a nation in decline. We are a nation that is failing. For millions of Americans, the last two years under Joe Biden have been a pain, hardship, anxiety and despair”. This article was updated at 7:50 PM PT to add additional details and a statement from Ivanka Trump.
