Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) made headlines for leaving the Republican Party in the summer of 2019, writing that, “Modern politics is trapped in a partisan death spiral.”
And now the Independent politician is exploring running for president.
Amash has a dedicated following among libertarians, but President Donald Trump didn’t seem too intimidated by the new challenger.
In a Wednesday morning tweet, Trump wrote, “I think Amash would make a wonderful candidate, especially since he is way behind in his district and has no chance of maintaining his Congressional seat.”
He added, “He almost always votes for the Do Nothing Dems anyway. I like him even more than Jill Stein!”
No, I think Amash would make a wonderful candidate, especially since he is way behind in his district and has no chance of maintaining his Congressional seat. He almost always votes for the Do Nothing Dems anyway. I like him even more than Jill Stein! https://t.co/V8kutnfvIj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2020
Trump’s tweet about Amash’s chances was responding to a Washington Post editorial by former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, who briefly ran against Trump in the GOP primary.
Walsh argued that Amash’s 2020 run would help Trump get re-elected, writing, “He can siphon enough votes from the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, to hand the election to Trump.”
He added, “The only candidate who can beat Trump is the Democratic Party nominee.”
In a conversation with The Daily Beast, Walsh was even more blunt, saying, “I think it’s absolute bullsh*t what [Amash is] doing.”
In tweets announcing the creation of an exploratory committee, Amash said, “We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president.”
We’re ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I’m excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 29, 2020
Amash came in on the Tea Party wave, when Republicans took back the House in 2010, after the election of former President Barack Obama. But he’s been outspoken about being disillusioned with the GOP in the age of Trump.
Still, the Michigan congressman wasn’t a figure in the presidential conversation until very recently. He didn’t even tease his 2020 run until mid-April, when he responded to a fan on Twitter by saying that he was “looking closely” at a run.