Did you even bother to click the provided link to the the letter? It states:
January 20, 2017
Processing Division
Federal Election Commission
999 E ST NW
Washington, DC 20463
To Whom It May Concern:
While this does not constitute a formal announcement of my candidacy for the 2020 election, because I have reached the legal threshold for filing FEC Form 2, please accept this letter as my Form 2 for the 2020 election in order to ensure compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act. See 52 U.S.C. �30102(e)(1); 11 C.F.R. �100.3(a)(1).
Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump
It's called being pro-active and getting your ducks in a row early, so as to relieve yourself of one more thing to remember to do in the future.
52 U.S. Code § 30102 - Organization of political committees
So, no. President trump did not announce his 2020 reelection bid on the day of his inauguration. He merely informed the Federal Elections Commission that he does indeed intend to run for reelection in 2020. He didn't officially announce that to the country, or the world, until June 18, 2019. You see there is a distinction between the two items. One shows intent, while the other fulfills the obligatory announcement to the public at large. It was not really news for either event, in reality.
Yes, did you?
It's called being pro-active and getting your ducks in a row early, so as to relieve yourself of one more thing to remember to do in the future.
Then what is to stop Trump from sending the same letter and making the same statement now? He claims that election laws prevent it, yet he did it four years ago. So right now he should be able to say to Hannity, "While I cannot make a formal announcement now, I have filed the paperwork saying I have reached the legal threshold to run for reelection in 2024."