Donald Trump announces run for the White House

The 69-year-old is considered a wildcard candidate in an increasingly crowded pool of presidential candidates

NEW YORK: Property tycoon Donald Trump, one of America's most flamboyant and outspoken billionaires, declared Tuesday he was running for the White House, promising to make America great again.

"I am officially running for president of the United States and we are going to make our country great again," he said in a speech delivered from Trump Tower on New York's Fifth Avenue.

The 69-year-old is considered a wildcard candidate in an increasingly crowded pool of contenders seeking the presidency in 2016.

Denouncing US foreign and economic policy, Trump ridiculed America's current crop of politicians and vowed to reverse what he called US decline.

"Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore," he said. "When was the last time anyone saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal. They kill us. I beat China all the time."

"When did we beat Japan at anything? They send their cars over by the millions and what do we do?"

The businessman, whom Forbes values at $4.1 billion, said "the United States has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems."