Billionaire real estate magnate Donald Trump said today he will not run for the White House in 2012 thinning the field of potential Republican candidates.
The host of NBC-TV's Celebrity Apprentice said his decision followed "considerable deliberation and reflection" after weeks of an unofficial campaign.
"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 said in a statement, adding that he is "not ready to leave the private sector".
Mr Trump is one of a number of prominent Republicans who have been mulling a run for their party's nomination to run against US president Barack Obama who is seeking a second term.
But Mr Trump, who made the issue of Mr Obama's place of birth a major platform of his would-be campaign, has slipped badly in surveys taken since the president released his birth certificate, confirming he was born in the United States.
Mr Trump's support for the Republican nomination fell from 26 per cent in April to just 8 per cent in early May in surveys done by Public Policy Polling.
Speaking in New Hampshire last week, Mr Trump expressed surprise at the public pummeling he has received since launching his potential candidacy.
He also suggested he will stay involved in Republican efforts to unseat Mr Obama in 2012.
"I look forward to supporting the candidate who is the most qualified to help us tackle our country's most important issues ... and be the agent of change that this country so desperately needs," Mr Trump said in his statement.
"I will continue to voice my opinions loudly and help to shape our politicians' thoughts."
Reuters