The US Republican Party needs a “fresh face” in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump, who has announced his nomination, is losing support, his former national security adviser John Bolton (who held the post from 2018-2019) told The Guardian newspaper.
Bolton said he conducted his own poll and found that Trump has been losing popularity in the party over the past two years.
“The only question we asked is: do you want Trump or do you want a fresh face? I think in our last poll more than 50% said they want a fresh face. This will continue,” the former White House official said.
He also added that he doubts current US President Joe Biden’s intention to run for a new term from the Democrats, which could also have an impact on Trump’s position as a candidate.
Bolton explained that Trump is very likely to lose the presidential race, which could then affect other candidates in other levels of elections. The former official noted that for a possible Republican presidential candidate, supporting Trump could even be detrimental.
“If you really want to win an election, Trump is not the answer,” Bolton said.
The former adviser pointed to Florida Governor Ron Desantis as a possible suitable candidate.
“He won re-election on November 8 with a big majority. A lot of people are looking at him as the next generation candidate,” Bolton said, adding that Trump’s actions seem “old and tired” in the background.
Trump has announced his desire to run in the upcoming US presidential election in mid-November.
“To make America great again,” is how the politician explained his nomination.
With a similar slogan, Trump won the election in 2016.
Not only Bolton, but also his other running mate, Vice President in the Trump administration Mike Pence, refused to back Trump in the election. He said it was “time for new leadership” in the US that would unite Americans around “the highest ideals”.
Trump’s candidacy has not only been opposed by some politicians. For example, businessman Elon Musk, who bought the social network Twitter a month ago and then unblocked Trump’s account on it, has declared his intention to vote for Desantis.