MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said Saturday in South Carolina he has an idea who will challenge President Joe Biden in 2024.
A familiar name the former Republican National Committee chairman said: former President Donald Trump.
"Now, I'm going to get something out of the way because I've been asked too many times. I think the odds of President Trump running for president are somewhere near 100%," Priebus said at the South Carolina Republican Party's inaugural conference in Myrtle Beach. "I think he will be the nominee of the party."
The line received applause from the roughly 350-person crowd, bringing some to their feet.
It's an open question whether Trump will run for a second term in 2024 since he lost to Biden last year.
It's also a question that's divided Republicans, including in South Carolina. Some party members said they want to see Trump run again, while others said they'd like to have a new candidate lead the party, with Trump playing a more behind-the-scenes role.
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick endorsed the idea of leaning into the conservative issues that Trump has pushed as the party moves forward, whether he's the ultimate nominee.
"The more conservative we've gotten over the years, the better we've done at the ballot box," he said.
In his 28-minute remarks, Priebus also criticized the Biden administration, from the administration's Afghanistan withdrawal to struggling supply chain issues, issues at the southern border, transgender issues and inflation.
"I don't usually like to talk about expensive places I go to, but I went to the grocery store yesterday," Priebus said to laughs.
