Trump: I can make America great again

William Petroski | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump outlines: "If I run for president, and if I win..." Real estate magnate and entrepreneur Donald Trump speaks at the Iowa Freedom Summit on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Donald Trump got a standing ovation from most of the crowd at the Iowa Freedom Summit on Saturday as he blasted rank-and-file Republican politicians and described President Barack Obama as either grossly incompetent or having ulterior motives in leading the country.

"I know what needs to be done to make America great again. We can make this country great again. The potential is enormous and I am seriously thinking of running for president," Trump said as the crowd cheered.

Trump said the country is in trouble, and if he wins the presidency he would defeat the Islamic State and stop Islamic terrorists. He said he would reduce the federal budget deficit and build a fence on the nation's southern border to stop illegal immigration, adding, "I mean seriously securing" the border.

He also pledged to save Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid "without cutting it to the bone" by "making the country rich again." He vowed to repeal Obama's Affordable Care Act and replace it with something better, although he didn't provide any details. In addition, he proposed rebuilding the nation's roads and airports.

Trump, a businessman and celebrity who is known as a maverick, made no effort to woo mainstream GOP elected officials. He remarked, "I am very conservative and I am a Republican, and I am disappointed with our Republican politicians because they let our president get away with absolute murder."

He told the crowd that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney "choked" in the 2012 campaign and shouldn't be nominated to run for president again. He described former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as an unsuitable candidate who is "very, very weak" on immigration and supports Common Core educational standards.

HINTS AT PRESIDENTIAL BID: Trump left no doubts that he is exploring a presidential bid, flatly declaring he is seriously weighing a presidential run.

AUDIENCE REACTION: He's a polished speaker and television celebrity who repeatedly got laughs. He had many Republican activists nodding in agreement and cheering as he ripped Democrats and showed no sympathy for GOP political leaders who don't fight harder for conservative causes.