Donald Trump Tells Friends He Will Run for President, Report Says

After months of back-and-forth over whether he might run for president, Donald Trump is now telling friends he will definitely throw his hat in the ring in 2012.

The billionaire real estate mogul has said he will announce his candidacy as a Republican when the current season of his hit NBC show "The Apprentice" ends in the spring, Newsmax reported Thursday.

Earlier this week, Trump told Forbes he was encouraged by surveys that found his business acumen would be seen as a positive by voters.

"Polls have come out and have been very strong," Trump said. "A recent poll came out where Trump and [Bill] Gates are the only two that beat [President Barack] Obama. Gates isn't running obviously, but they put names on it, and we're the only ones who beat Obama."

Newsmax said Trump has been seeking recommendations on potential political advisers and that he would focus initially on the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

"I have dealt with politics all of my life indirectly and directly," Trump said in the Forbes interview. "I would say few people have raised more money for politicians than I have over the years. And the other thing is I don't need money to run, unlike other people, so that's a big advantage. And that's an advantage for the voters, too, you know, because you don't have to make deals."

Trump did not comment Thursday.

In December, Trump told ABC's "Good Morning America" that mounting a White House campaign "could be fun because I'd like to see some positive things happen for the country." But earlier last year Trump denied considering a run for the White House