Arizona Senator Jeff Flake on Sunday suggested that a Republican should challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
“Do you think he needs to be challenged by somebody who espouses your views?” Flake was asked during an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”
“Yes, I do. I do. I mean, it would be a tough go in a Republican primary. The Republican Party is the Trump party right now. But that’s not to say it will stay that way,” Flake said.
The retiring Arizona senator has long been one of Trump’s chief critics in the Republican Party, often lashing out at the President for his immigration and economic policies. Flake’s criticism of the Trump administration started when he announced that he is not going to run for Senate again.
Earlier this month, Flake gave hints that he would not rule out a 2020 challenge to Trump.
“I do think the President will have a challenge from the Republican Party, I think there should be,” Flake said. “I also think that there will be an independent challenge, particularly if the Democrats insist on putting somebody up from the far left of the party.”
According to NBC News, Flake has stoked speculation about a potential 2020 bid with an upcoming visit to New Hampshire.
Meanwhile, Trump jumped into full campaign mode Sunday night at a rally in Pennsylvania for GOP congressional candidate Rick Saccone, The Hill reported.
During the event, Trump praised his success as president and revealed his new campaign slogan “Keep America Great.”
“The tax bill was so massive, bigger than [Ronald] Reagan, biggest one done,” Trump said. It is so big, he added, that “we are calling it tax reform” instead of a tax cut. “This is where a nonpolitician is good. For 40 years they couldn’t pass anything,” the President continued.
Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders are the most likely Democratic choices to confront Trump in the 2020 elections.
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