Congressman Justin Amash (I-MI), the Michigan representative who left the Republican Party last July, suggested late Tuesday evening that he is considering a last-second entry into the 2020 presidential race.
Earlier in the day, Amash tweeted a statement President Trump made at a coronavirus press briefing Monday: “When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total, and that’s the way it’s gotta be.”
“When somebody’s president of the United States, the authority is total, and that’s the way it’s gotta be.”
—Donald Trump— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 13, 2020
President Trump was talking about the subject of coronavirus lockdowns, and later clarified that was his intention, reports Politico.
“You have a couple bands of Democratic governors, but they will agree to it,” said Trump. “They will agree to it. But the authority of the president of the United States, having to do with the subject we’re talking about, is total.”
Shortly after the congressman’s post, Amash tweeted a follow-up statement that was heavily open to interpretation: “Americans who believe in limited government deserve another option.”
Americans who believe in limited government deserve another option. https://t.co/c7P2vOTyOe
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 13, 2020
But after a Twitter user commented on Amash’s post saying “please let it be you,” the congressman clarified a bit more and suggested that he was considering a last-second presidential run.
“Thanks. I’m looking at it closely this week,” responded Amash on Monday evening.
Thanks. I’m looking at it closely this week.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 14, 2020
Amash left the Republican Party on the Fourth of July in 2019, announcing his departure in a Washington Post op-ed titled “Our Politics Is In A Partisan Death Spiral. That’s Why I’m Leaving The GOP.”
The Republican Party, I believed, stood for limited government, economic freedom and individual liberty — principles that had made the American Dream possible for my family.
In recent years, though, I’ve become disenchanted with party politics and frightened by what I see from it. The two-party system has evolved into an existential threat to American principles and institutions.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, Amash told CNN after the op-ed was published that he would consider running for president as an Independent candidate.
“I still wouldn’t rule anything like that out, I believe I have to use my skills, my public influence, where it serves the country best,” said Amash. “And I believe I have to defend the Constitution in whichever way that works best.”
Former Congressman Joe Walsh, who ran a failed 2020 primary bid against Trump, seemingly blasted Amash for his statement, and said that anyone who would lobby a third-party candidacy was betraying the country’s “one job.”
“No 3rd Party candidate. No independent candidate. Sorry Libertarians, I love ya, but no libertarian candidate,” tweeted Walsh on Monday evening. “NOT THIS YEAR. NOT NOW. We have one job this year: TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP. That’s it. And the ONLY way we beat him is if we ALL support the Democratic nominee. ALL OF US.”
No 3rd Party candidate. No independent candidate. Sorry Libertarians, I love ya, but no libertarian candidate. NOT THIS YEAR. NOT NOW. We have one job this year: TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP. That’s it. And the ONLY way we beat him is if we ALL support the Democratic nominee. ALL OF US.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 14, 2020