Trump says no to presidential run

Posted: 05.16.2011 at 12:21 PM

Donald Trump announced Monday that he will not seek the 2012 GOP nomination for president. / AP photo

NEW YORK (AP) — After months of flirting with politics, Donald Trump said Monday he won't run for president, choosing to stick with hosting "The Celebrity Apprentice" over entering the race for the Republican nomination.

The reality TV star and real estate magnate made his announcement at a Manhattan hotel as NBC, which airs his show, rolled out its fall lineup.

He's spent the past few months weighing whether to seek the presidency, delivering speeches to national GOP groups, traveling to early primary states like New Hampshire and criticizing President Barack Obama from afar.

He is the second Republican in a matter of days to say no to a bid for the GOP nomination. Mike Huckabee announced Saturday that he wouldn't seek the presidency.

At the Hilton hotel in New York, NBC said that "The Celebrity Apprentice" would be coming back in midseason. But Bob Greenblatt, the head of NBC entertainment, said the only mystery would be whether Trump was host.

Trump then took the stage, saying the show has made a lot of money for charity and that he wanted to continue doing so.

"I will not be running for president as much as I'd like to," Trump said.

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