US business tycoon Donald Trump declared Tuesday he was running for the White House, promising to make America “great again”.
“I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created,” Trump said in a launch speech at his Trump Tower skyscraper in Manhattan.
"Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore," he said. "When was the last time anyone saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal. They kill us. I beat China all the time."
"When did we beat Japan at anything? They send their cars over by the millions and what do we do?"
The businessman, whom Forbes values at $4.1 billion, said "the United States has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems."
The 69-year-old is considered a wildcard candidate in an increasingly crowded Republican pool of contenders seeking the presidency in 2016.
Eleven Republicans have announced they are running for next November’s election, the latest being former Florida Governor Jeb Bush who launched his candidacy on Monday.
Trump, 69, who owns several hotels and hosts the reality show “The Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC, toyed with running in past elections but decided against doing so.
Trump features 12th in a Reuters/Ipsos online poll of 13 Republicans who have either declared their candidacies or are likely to. Bush led the poll.
In other surveys, Trump has high negative ratings, with more than 50 percent of Americans saying they will never consider voting for him.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)