Congressman Amash hints at third-party White House bid, amid his ongoing Trump criticism

Rep. Justin Amash, an Independent, said Tuesday that he’s “closely” looking at a third-party presidential bid, following President Trump’s recent statements about having power over states planning to reopen their economies as the coronavirus pandemic shows signs of subsiding.

Trump said Monday that he has “total authority” over when states can lift restrictions, as governors along the East and West coasts form coalitions to restart regional economies. 

Amash left the Republican Party in July 2019, in part over his disapproval of Trump’s policies and the direction in which he was taking the party. 

Amash first tweeted that Trump was “flat-out wrong” about his executive branch authority and suggested that voters should have another candidate choice in November. 

“Thanks. I’m looking at it closely this week,” he later tweeted, after a follower suggested he run.