But pulling the trigger on a third White House campaign prior to Election Day this November, as Trump concedes is possible, might boomerang. Rather than box out potential 2024 opponents and clear the field, such a move by the former president could reek of fear, inviting more competition for the Republican nomination.

“If Trump thinks he needs to keep others from running against him by announcing first, then he must realize he’s losing influence in the party and will only encourage others to get into the race,” said a GOP strategist who advises one of several Republicans vying to supplant Trump atop the party and requested anonymity to protect clients from reprisal by the former president and his supporters…

On another topic of some agreement, Republican insiders are near universally concerned that Trump launching a presidential campaign before midterm fall elections would damage the party’s prospects. That is why Republicans supportive of the former president and who have his ear are selling him on the upside of delaying.

“Advisers like me have said, ‘Wait until after the midterms; announce now if you’d like that you have a huge announcement the day after the midterms,’” one such GOP Republican insider said. “This way, he can share in the credit for huge Republican wins … and avoid being blamed by some in the GOP if they come up short in the Senate or other races.”