Donald Trump: I Will Not Be Running for President

10:10 AM PDT 5/16/2011 by Lacey Rose

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NBC

"This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country," he says in a statement.

Donald Trump announced Monday that he has decided not to run for president.

"I will not be running for president," he announced from the podium at the NBC Upfront presentation, held at NYC's Hilton Hotel.

The news followed NBC boss Bob Greenblatt's praise of Celebrity Apprentice, which has seen its ratings climb this season. "The crazier the celebrities, the higher the ratings," quipped Greenblatt nearly two hours into his first NBC upfront presentation to advertisers. Read Kim Masters' live blog.

Making it that much more official, Trump released a statement about his move. "This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country," he reads. Read the full statement on page two.

How far the billionaire-turned-TV personality would have gotten is an open question. His decision to run generated as much controversy as it did ink in recent months. Demanding to see President Barack Obama's long-form birth certificate, for instance, had many accusing Trump of being racist . Both his actions and his unforgiving persona have earned him a growing list of Hollywood enemies.