Did you know Donald Trump FIRST ran for President in 1999/2000? It’s true! Here are the details: Donald Trump’s First Campaign President Donald Trump’s first actual run for office—meaning his first formal campaign as a declared candidate seeking a party’s nomination—was in 1999 for the 2000 presidential election. The 2000 Reform Party Run Announcement: He formed an exploratory committee and announced his interest in seeking the nomination of the Reform Party (founded by Ross Perot) on October 7, 1999, during an appearance on Larry King Live. Campaign Activity: He actively campaigned for a time, including winning the California Reform Party primary in 2000. Withdrawal: He withdrew from the race in February 2000 (or March in some accounts) due to concerns about the party’s internal dysfunction and conflicts. This predates his more famous 2016 Republican presidential run (announced in June 2015). Earlier Explorations and Flirtations Earlier flirtations existed but did not constitute a full run: 1987–1988: He floated the idea of running for president (as a potential Republican or independent), took out full-page newspaper ads criticizing U.S. foreign policy, and gave speeches in places like New Hampshire. This was largely promotional (tied to his book The Art of the Deal) and never became a formal candidacy or filing. Other Cycles: He considered or teased runs in other cycles (e.g., 2004, 2012), but took no concrete steps like forming a committee or declaring. But what I really want to show you is Donald Trump on Jay Leno in 1999. I’ve shown a lot of old clips over the years of Donald Trump on old talk shows, but until today I had never seen this clip. It’s pretty incredible, watch here: Backup here if needed: MUST SEE: President Trump on Jay Leno In 1999 — First Run For President! pic.twitter.com/RYSf5An3bL — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) February 8, 2026 FULL TRANSCRIPT: YES Video Transcript: Jay Leno and Donald Trump Jay Leno: This young man is, ladies and gentlemen. He has a new book out called The America We Deserve. That sounds presidential. It’ll be on store shelves by early January. Please welcome the next President of the United States—Donald Trump, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, so much press. So much—so much press out there. But you look like you’re having fun with it. Donald Trump: I am having fun. I’m enjoying it. I think I can do a good job, but I am enjoying it. Jay Leno: Now, whose idea was it? Did people come to you? Did you go to people? Where did this all start? Donald Trump: Well, an article was written in a real estate magazine about a great deal I did. And the writer said, “Mr. Trump, would you ever think about running for president?” And I said, “Well, I might.” And they came out with a headline, not about the deal, but that I might consider it. And all of a sudden I was inundated with press and here I sit, here I am in front of the legendary Jay Leno. Jay Leno: I mean, have you thought about it before? Have you ever been elected to anything? School president, 5th grade class? Donald Trump: Just the president, chairman, vice president, secretary, treasurer of my own company. Jay Leno: But that’s a dictatorship. That’s a dictatorship. This is a democracy. Donald Trump: I agree. That’s true. That is a total dictatorship. You don’t appoint yourself; that’s exactly right. Jay Leno: Now, do you feel you’ll be able to restore dignity to the office of the president? Donald Trump: Well, I think I would be. I mean, the country has really suffered from a lack of dignity over the last number of years and I think I would. Jay Leno: But everybody’s making money. The economy, you got to admit, the economy’s pretty good. Donald Trump: The economy has been good and I’m one of the folks that it’s been very good to. And the economy has been good and I think the economy can stay good with the right person going in for the next 4 years. Jay Leno: Now, they say a job like president requires a big ego. Now, do you think—you think you can handle it? Donald Trump: I’m not sure my ego is big enough. That’s one of the things we’re checking out. Jay Leno: Really? Can I write that down? I think I see the next article headline. I can see it. All right, make a note of that. I mean, what do you think you would do as president? I mean, the president only makes 400 grand a year. That’s a bad weekend in Vegas for you. Donald Trump: That’s true. Yes. I came out with something that a lot of my rich friends aren’t totally in favor of. But it was a 14 1/4% tax on people with a net worth over $10,000,000. Now, not one of those folks clapping have a net worth over $10,000,000. But what that does is it virtually pays off the national debt, reduces taxes for the middle class, gets rid of the inheritance tax, and saves Social Security. Jay Leno: But it seems to me rich people just move their money offshore. It seems like you would do more harm than good. Instead of keeping my money in the United States, I would just move it to the Caymans or somewhere, wouldn’t you? Donald Trump: I’d actually keep it here, Jay, because the economy would be so unbelievable. There’d be nothing like it. We’d have no debt as a country and the economy would be so unbelievable. I’d keep my money here. I have a $700 million tax to pay or something in that path. Not that I want to pay it, but again, the rich save on inheritance, the country saves on Social Security, and everybody benefits. Jay Leno: Why not just make Bill Gates pay the whole damn thing and let everybody else— Donald Trump: He could almost. I say what we do is nationalize Microsoft, you split it up, and everything’s taken care of. Jay Leno: Sounds like a reasonable idea. Now, how about your personal life? When you’re a candidate, they look into you; they scrutinize with a fine-tooth comb. Most presidents don’t have two ex-wives. Donald Trump: Two ex-wives, that’s right. They could have, but they haven’t. No, I was married actually to two wonderful women. And now I’ve had a very good time, I’d say, over the last period of time. Jay Leno: You sound like you had a hell of a time. Donald Trump: A very good time. I didn’t want to use that word, but it has been one hell of a time. Jay Leno: Now, would your past be a problem? Donald Trump: I don’t think so. I think nowadays it’s not and, who knows? We’ll see. Jay Leno: Well, I know you don’t drink, right? Donald Trump: I don’t drink. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I never had a cup of coffee. I never had drugs. I don’t know what drugs are in terms of that. So that’s the good news. However, I have dated. Jay Leno: But that begs the question: why? I see the people going, “Never had a drink? What the hell’s the matter with this guy?” What do you say when Joe 6-Pack hears you never had a drink? Donald Trump: It’s just something I chose. You know, I had a brother who had a big problem with alcoholism and he taught me a tremendous amount. One thing he taught me is to stay away from the booze. And it was very important to me. I’ve stayed away, not for any other reason than that, and I just don’t like it. So in that sense, I’m lucky. Jay Leno: Now, how about a first lady? Would you hold a massive search? Donald Trump: I’m a great believer in the institution of marriage, believe it or not. I really am. I am a tremendous believer in the institution and I think it’s something that’s fabulous if you get the right woman. If you get the wrong woman, it is—yeah. Jay Leno: Well, like if you got married in the White House and got divorced, would she get like everything west of the Mississippi? Donald Trump: I don’t know. She might get half the White House. Jay Leno: No, you’d need a good prenup there. You’d have to get a prenup to save the country. How about some of the other candidates? Like McCain—this issue of his temper. Donald Trump: Well, it’s a big issue, but you know, you’re locked up for 5 or 6 years and it’s a pretty big issue. I watched the other day, he was being interviewed and the only question he got was that very question. Jay Leno: How about you? Do you have a temper? Donald Trump: Not too much of a temper, believe it or not. No. I don’t have too much of a temper. Jay Leno: But I remember you saying in an article once, you believe in an eye for an eye. Donald Trump: That’s true. I believe when somebody—and I was going to use a different word, but I think I can’t do it on network television—but when somebody gets you, you want to get them. And I believe it. Jay Leno: But being president, you’d have to be more diplomatic. You can’t go in there and crush the other guy. Donald Trump: Well, you’d be diplomatic and you’d tone it down a little bit, but the fact is that I do believe in retribution. Jay Leno: Well, how about, wouldn’t everything you own be put in a trust? That happened to Jimmy Carter. Everything he owned went in a trust, and when he went back to private life, everything went bankrupt. Donald Trump: Well, the trust wasn’t too big to start off with. The fact is that everything I owned would be put in trust and I have very capable people working for me and they’d run it. I hope they do a good job. Jay Leno: Now how about the situation with President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky? What are your thoughts on that? Donald Trump: Well, it wasn’t great. A lot of bad choices there. I don’t know where these folks came from—Linda Tripp and Monica and Paula Jones. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m sure the president wished he’d never seen anything like it. But you have some beauties in that deal. The whole thing—and the shame. Jay Leno: What do you think he should have done? Let’s suppose you were in that same situation. Donald Trump: Of course it could never happen. Jay Leno: What should Clinton have done? Donald Trump: Well, he could have come clean. Or he should have never answered the question. Jay Leno: But he had to because he was subpoenaed. Donald Trump: No, I know, but his lawyers could have fought a little bit harder. I think his lawyers did an absolutely atrocious, terrible job. They could have fought a little bit harder maybe not to have to answer that question. But once you do—I mean, it’s pretty tough answering that question with your wife sitting at home. It’s a tough question. “Did you have an affair with this woman?” Hillary’s had a hard time of it, let’s face it. This could not have been 3 years of fun for Hillary. Jay Leno: Well, how about Hillary and Rudy Giuliani in New York? What do you got there? Donald Trump: Well, I’m a big fan of Rudy. He’s been the greatest mayor that New York’s ever had. I support Rudy because he’s been a great mayor. No New York mayor has ever gone on to higher office, but I think Rudy will. And I like Hillary too. I like her very much. As a person I like her very much. But I think Rudy’s been the best mayor we’ve ever had. The city is the hottest city in the world right now and he’s been at the helm. Jay Leno: Now how about Pat Buchanan? He seems to be the guy you’d have to battle for that. Donald Trump: Well, it’s true. He’s anti-Semitic. He’s anti-black. He obviously has been having a love affair with Adolf Hitler in some form and I just can’t imagine this guy— Jay Leno: But I don’t want you to hold back. Give me how you feel now. These coy answers. Donald Trump: I can’t imagine that Pat is going to be very seriously taken as a candidate. Perhaps he’s a good debater but he’s got a lot of bad stuff out there. Jay Leno: Now when will you decide for sure when you’re going to let that happen? Donald Trump: Probably in the month of February. And if I decide, it’ll be based on the fact that I feel in my gut and my heart that I can win. And if I think I can win, I’ll decide. I think I’d do a good job. I think I’d save a lot of people a lot of grief. Jay Leno: Well, I appreciate the honest answers. Thanks for this straightforward answer. You can come back here and announce it. Donald Trump: Thank you, my friend. Thank you very much. Jay Leno: Donald Trump, ladies and gentlemen. This is the book. RELATED REPORT: RARE VIDEO: David Letterman LOVED Donald Trump! You’re going to love this. So I have to admit something… I was a huge David Letterman fan. Always thought he was hilarious. Genuinely funny and I loved how he would interview and joke with guests. If Leno was your polished, plain vanilla comedy, Letterman had all the jagged edges….and the edges were hilarious. But then something happened. As he got older, he got more political and started going far left. And with that move the comedy started to disappear. Because comedy can’t exist when you’re too full of anger and political ideology. So I want to you try and forget about the David Letterman of today and I want to take you back to the David Letterman of the 1980s. When Letterman was in his prime….and when David Letterman LOVED Donald Trump. Those are not my words, that comes straight from Letterman himself in this clip. Watch and enjoy: ⭐ CLASSIC: Dave Letterman Asks Donald Trump To Build Him A New Office pic.twitter.com/MbMjTZbDeM — Noah Christopher (@DailyNoahNews) May 20, 2023 Backup here on Rumble: Here are a couple more… Watch this one from 1992: And one of the earliest ones in 1986: