Donald Trump promised that his Tuesday announcement in New York, during which he is expected to announce his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination, will make a lot of people "very happy," but he still remained somewhat coy Monday on Fox News about what he plans to say.
"Well, it means a lot of things to a lot of people," the real estate mogul and "Apprentice" television show star told
"Fox & Friends." "Some people think he's not going to do it. They want me to do it. I do well in the polls, despite the fact that nobody thinks I'm running, which is incredible."
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Trump's announcement is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at his own namesake Trump Tower in New York City, and on Monday, he was very much in attack mode against another candidate: Jeb Bush, who is set to announce his campaign on the day before Trump takes center stage.
"The last thing this country needs is another Bush," Trump told the program. "In this case, he is in favor of Common Core, meaning to take education away from local [authority]. That's so ridiculous. I don't understand how he can be that."
Further, Trump complained that Bush doesn't show a great deal of enthusiasm for the job or the country.
"This country needs a cheerleader, somebody with great enthusiasm," said Trump. "Bush is not going to get us there. He's in the going to take us to the 'Promised Land.' In fact, no politician will take us to the 'Promised Land.'
"We need somebody other than a politician. They're weak, ineffective and the world is making a joke out of the United States."
Trump, though, did say he was appreciative of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who told ABC's "This Week" program on Sunday that he considers Trump a good family friend and a "serious candidate."
"I have been friends with Chris and [his wife] Mary Pat," said Trump. "They're terrific people. He said in another show that the only one tougher than him is Trump, and that's what we need in this country because we are being pushed around like a bunch of babies. I consider that a great compliment."
But while it's "hard to attack somebody that's been so nice," Trump said he "certainly wouldn't be afraid of anybody in this race."
Also on Monday, Trump said that reports that his "financials" may be released on Tuesday come from "a source that might be very good."
"I will tell you, my financials are phenomenal," Trump said. "Not in a bragging way."
He said he's heard over the years that he may not run because his financial numbers are not good, but "actually, my numbers are far, far, far better. I built a great company with very little debt ... I built an unbelievable company."
But he said he is not worried that what resonates on the East Coast may not matter to voters in the South or on the West Coast.
"I don't think this is going to be an election based on real popularity," he said. "Somebody said, do you have a good personality? I think I do. I give a lot of money to charity. People like me.
"The people that don't like me are the people that don't know me. I have a lot of friends."
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