Popular conservative and former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder announced on Thursday that he is joining the growing list of Republican candidates for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
Elder made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
“The reason I’m doing this is because, you know, my father was a World War II vet. He served on the island of Guam. He was a Marine – first black Marines, they were called ‘Montford Point Marines.’ My late older brother Kirk was in the Navy during the Vietnam era and my little brother Dennis actually served in Vietnam in the Army. I’m the only one that didn’t serve and I don’t feel good about that,” Elder explained. “I feel I have a moral, religious and patriotic duty to give back to a country that’s been so good to my family and to me. That is why I’m doing this, Tucker.”
Elder listed multiple issues he believes Republicans need to give more attention to, including the “absolute disgraceful lie that the Democrats put on everything, which is that America is systemically racist.”
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“It isn’t just a lie, Tucker. It’s having real consequences,” Elder said. “The police are pulling back. It’s call the ‘Ferguson Effect’ or the ‘George Floyd Effect.’ The people who are harmed by that are the very black and brown people that the people on the left claim they care about. There’s been a study that shows hundreds if not thousands of people are now dead because police are not engaging in proactive policing because they’ve been demoralized by people calling them racist.”
Elder also posted the announcement on Twitter, writing, “America is in decline, but this decline is not inevitable. We can enter a new American Golden Age, but we must choose a leader who can bring us there. That’s why I’m running for President. #WeveGotACountryToSave https://elderforpresident.com.”
In addition to Elder, President Donald Trump is mounting his third campaign for president. His most widely anticipated party rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has not yet announced a campaign.
Other Republicans who have thrown their hat in the ring include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
