- January 24, 2015 -

Trump: I can make America great again

Read more at The Des Moines Register

Businessman and celebrity Donald Trump got a standing ovation from most of the crowd at the Iowa Freedom Summit as he blasted rank-and-file Republican politicians and described President Barack Obama as either grossly incompetent or having ulterior motives in leading the country.

"I know what needs to be done to make America great again. We can make this country great again. The potential is enormous and I am seriously thinking of running for president," Trump remarked as the crowd cheered.

New York businessman and entertainer Donald Trump announces he's strongly considering presidential run to boisterous supporters. Brian Houlgrave

Trump said the country is in trouble and if he wins the presidency he would defeat ISIS and stop Islamic terrorists. He said he would reduce the federal budget deficit and build a fence on the nation's southern border to stop illegal immigration, adding, "I mean seriously securing" the border.

He also pledged to save Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid "without cutting it to the bone" by "making the country rich again." He vowed to repeal Obama's Affordable Care Act and replace it with something better, although he didn't provide any details. In addition, he proposed rebuilding the nation's roads and airports.

Trump, who is known as a maverick, made no effort to woo mainstream GOP elected officials. He remarked, "I am very conservative and I am a Republican, and I am disappointed with our Republican politicians because they let our president get away with absolute murder."