Former Ohio governor and 2016 GOP presidential candidate John Kasich will be joining CNN as a senior political commentator.
Just one day after CNBC reported that Kasich signed with United Talent Agency (UTA) and was looking into deals with either CNN or MSNBC, CNN revealed that the potential 2020 presidential candidate was joining their ranks. (RELATED: Report: John Kasich Expected To Join CNN Or MSNBC)
Kasich’s first appearance as a commentator on the network will be on “Cuomo Prime Time” on Tuesday night.
Kasich is perhaps one of the most aggressive anti-Trump members of the Republican Party and he has repeatedly criticized the GOP for not taking a harder stance against the president. Last week, CNN signed former Republican Utah Rep. Mia Love, who was mocked by President Donald Trump for losing her re-election bid.
Kasich was looking to join a major news network after finishing his second term as governor of Ohio, but had apparently ruled out Fox News Channel, despite previously hosting a show on the network in the early 2000s.
A spokesperson for Kasich told CNBC that signing with a cable news channel would not affect whether or not Kasich decides to launch a primary challenge or a third-party run against President Donald Trump in 2020.
“Any announcement about a TV contract would have no bearing on his 2020 intentions,” chief political spokesman Chris Schrimpf said. “All options are still on the table.”