Mr Trump said he was not able to leave the private sector and that his passion remained in business US tycoon Donald Trump says he will not be running for the US presidency in 2012, ending weeks of speculation.Mr Trump said he was not ready to leave the private sector and that his ultimate passion remained in business.
"This decision does not come easily or without regret," he said in a brief statement.
"I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election," Mr Trump added.
The statement went on to say: "I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly.
"Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector."
Mr Trump, who hosts the reality television programme Celebrity Apprentice, made his announcement on Monday as the NBC television network rolled out its lineup of forthcoming shows.
Prior to the announcement, NBC said it would bring back the programme with a different host if Mr Trump ran for president.
The New York businessman has been flirting with a presidential bid for weeks, even travelling to early primary states like New Hampshire.
Last month, Mr Trump demanded that President Barack Obama release copies of his birth certificate, renewing rumours that Mr Obama was not born in the US.
The president ultimately released the certificate, and Mr Trump took credit for forcing Mr Obama's hand.
Mr Trump's news comes only days after Mike Huckabee, a Republican and former governor of the US state of Arkansas, announced he would not seek the Republican nomination for the presidency.
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and and Texas Congressman Ron Paul both announced their intention to run last week.
Other likely Republican 2012 candidates include former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Utah Governor and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.
Of those, only Mr Romney and Mr Pawlenty have taken the first official step towards a candidacy, by forming exploratory committees to test the waters and begin raising money.
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