WASHINGTON (AFP) - Michael Avenatti, who rose to fame representing porn star Stormy Daniels in her legal wrangling with Donald Trump, announced Tuesday (Dec 4) he would not seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

Avenatti, 47, had flirted recently with taking on Trump two years from now in what most political analysts had said would have been a long-shot bid for the White House.

But Avenatti said Tuesday he had decided not to run.

"After consultation with my family and at their request, I have decided not to seek the Presidency of the United States in 2020," he said in a statement on Twitter.

"I will continue to represent Stormy Daniels and others against Donald Trump and his cronies and will not rest until Trump is removed from office, and our republic and its values are restored," he added.

Avenatti became a fixture on US television news networks as the attorney for Stormy Daniels as she sought to quash a non-disclosure agreement that prevented her from talking about her sexual encounter with Trump over a decade ago.

Avenatti's star has waned following an arrest last month for domestic violence in Los Angeles. Avenatti has denied the allegations and has not been charged in the case.

In his statement, Avenatti urged the Democratic Party to nominate a candidate for 2020 capable of beating Trump.

"The party must immediately recognise that many of the likely candidates are not battletested and have no real chance at winning," he said. "We will not prevail in 2020 without a fighter. I remain hopeful the party finds one."