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 Trump said he had formed an exploratory committee to determine
whether to run, and that he had hired staff in Iowa, New Hampshire
and South Carolina. Those states will be the first to hold
Republican and Democratic presidential nominating contests early
next year.
In a telephone interview with Reuters, Trump said he would put his
job creation record up against anyone, including the dozen or so
Republicans who are considering a White House run in 2016.
"I have been dealing with politicians all my life," he said from New
York. "They’re all talk and no action, and that's the way it is."
Trump, known by the nickname "The Donald," said that as president he
would spur job creation, for example, by cracking down on what he
called China's manipulation of its currency, a practice he said that
lately has been taken up by Japan.
 The United States for years has attempted to persuade Beijing to
halt a practice that Washington says China uses to depress the price
of its exports.
"I would be extremely strong on the devaluation of their currency,"
he said.
Trump also said he would increase security along the U.S.-Mexican
border.
Trump, who owns several hotels and hosts the reality show "The
Apprentice" on NBC, has toyed with running before but has indicated
that this time he is serious about considering it.
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A growing list of Republicans is weighing White House runs,
including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, South Carolina Senator
Lindsey Graham, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, former Florida
Governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Trump has garnered attention for his sharp criticism of President
Barack Obama's policies. But he also ruffled feathers with
discredited questions over whether Obama was born in the United
States, which led to Obama releasing his long-form birth certificate
to end the controversy.
Trump will not renew his contract for "The Apprentice" while he
explores running, according to The New Hampshire Union Leader
newspaper. Trump is to go to New Hampshire Thursday to meet with
business owners and veterans.
(Reporting by Steve Holland and Emily Stephenson; Editing by Susan
Heavey, Bernadette Baum and James Dalgleish)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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