Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake did not rule out a 2020 presidential run against President Donald Trump in an interview with MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt Sunday night.
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“Do you think you would be a better president than President Trump?” asked Hunt.
“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that people in Congress like me and the president’s party, when we see things that shouldn’t be happening we ought to stand up,” said Sen. Flake.
“You say we should oppose him when we think he’s wrong. Do you think that there is a moral obligation or duty for someone else in your party to challenge him for the nomination in 2020?” Hunt then asked.
“I don’t want to put it that way but I think he will have a challenge,” commented Flake.
Hunt butted in, “Is it going to come from you?”
“He will certainly have a challenge from somebody as an independent, but I think he’ll like have a challenge in the Republican party as well. I’m not the only one, not the only Republican who is saying I’m not sure this is my party. We used to stand for limited government and free trade, free enterprise, and not this kind of nationalist, protectionist kind of party. I think that I’m not the only one,”said Flake, not yet answering the question.
“Will yo completely rule out challenging the president for the nomination in 2020? You won’t?” asked Hunt.
“I won’t rule it out, it’s not in my plans but I’m not ruling it out, I don’t think anybody should,” Flake responded.
Sen. Jeff Flake is not running for re-election in Arizona for the upcoming midterm elections. Arizona political advisors did not see a path to victory for him 2018, although the Senator has not publicly credited his disapproval as a reason for his resignation. According to Morning Consult, Sen. Flake has a 37% approval rating and is ranked as the third most disapproved Senator in the U.S.