Donald Trump Opens Way to Independent White House Run

Real estate mogul and reality TV personality Donald Trump has quit the Republican Party to register as an independent, opening the way for a potential outsider run at the White House, reports said Friday.

Trump made the switch on Thursday, his lawyer, Michael Cohen, told The Hill political news website.

Trump did this "in order to preserve his right to run as an independent... if he is not satisfied with whom the candidate is," Cohen told The Hill.

The make-over of Trump, who has persistently flirted with a presidential attempt, was also reported by Politico and other specialist sites.

Known for his blustery mane and defiantly garish tastes in real estate, Trump has huge name recognition and a large personal fortune. However he has little in the way of a campaign network, or a political following.

ABC News reported that he could run as a candidate with Americans Elect, an online convention to nominate an independent candidate. It is not a party, but an alternative vehicle for getting a non-Democrat or Republican presidential candidate on the ballot.