A Republican has finally stepped up and signaled his intentions to challenge sitting President Donald Trump for the party nomination in the 2020 elections.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld announced on Monday that he will be joining the 2020 race, making him the first Republican to officially challenge the president, according to CNN.
“Ours is a nation built on courage, resilience, and independence. In these times of great political strife, when both major parties are entrenched in their ‘win at all cost’ battles, the voices of the American people are being ignored and our nation is suffering,” Weld, said in a statement. “It is time for patriotic men and women across our great nation to stand and plant a flag. It is time to return to the principles of Lincoln — equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. There is no greater cause on earth than to preserve what truly makes America great. I am ready to lead that fight.”
Weld told CNN‘s Jake Tapper that he would “fear for the Republic” if the country had six more years with Trump as President and he would be “ashamed” of himself if he didn’t take a stand.
“I really think if we have six more years of the same stuff we’ve had out of the White House the last two years that would be a political tragedy, and I would fear for the Republic,” he said.”I would be ashamed of myself if I didn’t raise my hand and run.”
Despite the fact that Trump has a nearly 90% approval rating among Republicans, Weld is confident that he can beat Trump in the primary and has said that he will not run as an independent if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination.
Weld was previously the vice presidential nominee on the Libertarian Party ticket in the 2016 elections, alongside New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.
Weld told CNN that he sees himself as a “Republican who works across the aisle and gets things done,” and vowed that he would have a “bipartisan Cabinet” if he were elected.
He added that both Republicans and Democrats in Washington were being divisive, however, he pointed to Trump as the “grand master” of the problem.
“I’ve never seen such bitterness in this country,” he said.