Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) is ending his presidential campaign to challenge President Donald Trump while continuing to take a swing at the president.
Walsh — who has been critical of Trump — made the announcement on CNN’s “New Day” early Friday, where he said, “I got into this because I thought it was really important that there was a Republican, a Republican, out there every day calling out this president for how unfit he is.”
“I want to stop Trump,” Walsh said, adding, “I believe he is a threat to this country.”
Walsh continued his criticism of Trump and claimed that the Republican Party has “become a cult” — which he has previously called the party “a cult” because of Trump:
“He can’t be stopped within the Republican Party. Nobody can beat him. It’s Trump’s party. … It’s not a party. It’s a cult. He can’t be beat in the Republican primary, so there is no reason for me or any candidate really to be in there. The party has become a cult.”
Asked “what now” that he is out of the race, Walsh vowed to “do whatever I can to stop Trump.”
When then asked if he is going to try to help elect any Democratic nominee, Walsh responded, “Any Democrat.”
“I would rather have John Berman, a socialist, in the White House than a dictator, than a king, than Donald Trump,” Walsh later added.
Watch Walsh’s interview below:
Former US Rep. Joe Walsh ends his Republican primary challenge against Trump
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) February 7, 2020
"[Trump] can't be stopped within the Republican Party. Nobody can beat him. It's Trump's party… It's not a party. It's a cult."https://t.co/VntLFoYj9U pic.twitter.com/JagOIRBFvo
With Walsh out of the 2020 race, it leaves former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R) challenging Trump in the Republican primary.