Donald Trump to form White House exploratory committee

Real-estate magnate Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to form a presidential exploratory committee as he weighs a 2016 presidential bid.

"I have a great love for our country, but it is a country that is in serious trouble," Trump said in a statement. "We have lost the respect of the entire world. Americans deserve better than what they get from their politicians -- who are all talk and no action!"

The announcement, first reported by New Hampshire's Union Leader, comes on the eve of Trump's visit Thursday to that early voting state.

While the mogul known for his television series Apprentice has flirted with a presidential bid in the past, this year he has taken his most concrete steps toward a campaign. He has hired staff in several early primary states and last month addressed Republican activists at the Conservative Political Action Committee's gathering.

An exploratory committee allows him to begin raising money for a presidential campaign.

MORE:Iowa GOP campaign operative joins Trump payroll

Trump touted his business experience in his announcement. "I have built a great company, created thousands of jobs and built a tremendous net worth with some of the finest and prestigious assets in the world," he said. Trump said the United States needs to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen the military and "control our borders."

Trump's famous name has garnered him lots of attention and controversy. At his CPAC appearance last month, he returned to a familiar theme of his, raising questions about whether President Obama was born in the United States.

The Union Leader said Trump will not renew his NBC contract for his reality-television series.

Trump posted a news release about his committee on Facebook.