2012 US Presidential Campaign

Campaign Events

The conventional wisdom often holds that Trump did not sincerely run for president in 2012. However, the historical record suggests he did in fact campaign for real and only withdrew the race when it was obvious that he was not going to be able to beat President Obama and/or his field of GOP challengers.

• Trump spoke before the Nashua Chamber of Commerce in New Hampshire about his feelings after having been mocked by President Obama and Seth Meyers at a White House Correspondents Association Dinner. “Donald Trump has offered one more explanation for his grim face during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. In a speech to the Nashua (N.H.) Chamber of Commerce captured Wednesday on C-SPAN, he explained that he wasn't sure how to react when President Obama and Seth Meyers started making jokes about him.’I looked at my wife and said: 'Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Am I supposed to be honored or am I supposed to hide under the table?' So I just sort of sat there and listened and took it in.’” (Washington Post, May 13, 2011)