Following a failed campaign for Florida governor, investment firm CEO and conservative influencer James Fishback announced he has a new goal in mind: the presidency.

Fishback revealed the move on Wednesday morning via X, sharing a clip of someone asking him what he planned to do next.

“Do you plan on running for Congress? Do you plan on maybe starting your own thing?” the person asked.

“I’m going to run for president,” Fishback responded.

The clip then shows applause from the audience, though it abruptly ends with Fishback saying, “I’m only kidding.”

Last night, someone asked me “What do you plan on doing next?”

I told them the truth.

I’m running for president. https://t.co/yRdxr9KdS2

— James Fishback (@jamesfishback) October 28, 2026

News 6 reached out to Fishback via text to verify whether the announcement was serious.

“Yes,” he replied. “My official announcment is forthcoming with (details about my campaign).”

FISHBACK’S RUN FOR GOVERNOR

Fishback, who was a Republican competitor for Ron DeSantis’ position, campaigned to stop H-1B visas for foreign workers, cancel A.I. data centers, and abolish property taxes, much in the same vein as DeSantis.

However, he also made some eye-catching proposals during that run, including the following:

• Sin Tax: A 50% tax on OnlyFans creators in the state, with funding going toward public education and crisis pregnancy centers
• Mandatory School Uniforms: Required uniforms in all public schools, with families receiving $250 stipends per child to help purchase the necessary clothes
• Mamdani Tax: A $50,000 tax levied on out-of-state buyers trying to purchase a single-family home in Florida
• Homeless Sweep: Sending the National Guard to remove every single homeless person from Florida’s streets
• High School Graduation: Requiring students to get up in front of class and explain who their favorite president is and why for five minutes without notes

Fishback also made headlines earlier this year after he claimed that he had been barred from all Florida Waffle House locations amid his “Waffle House Tour” due to drawing crowds that were too large for the chain.

[RELATED: Waffle House bans Florida governor candidate from all restaurants in the state]

Ahead of the primary election in August, Fishback also made an accusation that fellow gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds — with whom he had a contentious relationship as the season progressed — was under federal investigation for sex trafficking.

Fishback recanted that statement on Wednesday, around two months after the Department of Justice confirmed the accusation was false.

While Fishback has not yet released specific details about his presidential campaign, the next presidential election is still a ways off, slated for Nov. 7, 2028.