BY LOGAN EGLESTON

President Trump is known for a rather atypical style of politics, and there are many outspoken opponents of his political style. However, some criticize his character more than others. For Republican 2020 challenger Joe Walsh, the final straw for Trump had been pulled long ago. 

“I believe Donald Trump is unfit to be president,” Joe Walsh, 2020 Republican Presidential candidate said in an exclusive interview with the Bruin. “He can’t tell the truth, and he can’t put the country’s issues ahead of his own. I think that’s a really scary thing for a president.” 

In 2016, Walsh had actually voted for Trump, despite criticizing his campaign and debate tactics. Walsh stated that his opposition to Trump formed throughout the course of his early presidency. 

“The turning point for me was in July of 2018 when he stated in front of the world that he trusted Putin more than his country’s own intelligence,” Walsh said. “That was the biggest act of disloyalty I have seen from a president.” 

Despite Walsh’s views of President Trump’s character, Walsh also opposes some of Trump’s policies as well. 

“[Debt] is the issue that animates me the most. Donald Trump is increasing the debt at a higher rate than Barack Obama did,” said Walsh. “He is putting your [Generation Z] generation in more and more debt.” 

Walsh also stated his opposition to the tariffs Trump has put into place, along with his immigration policy, specifically humanity at the border and efficiency of legal immigration. 

Walsh has been described as a Libretarian, given his pro-legality stance on marijuana and his pro-love stance on gay marriage, and that his challenging of Trump has put him in a tough position both with the Republican Party and his personal life. 

“This [campaign] is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done,” Walsh said. “I lost my job, I threw my life up in the air, I get threats everyday, people say ugly things about me, so to challenge an incumbent president, you have to really care.” 

In addition to Joe Walsh, Bill Weld, Republican governor of Massachusetts, is on the caucus ballot as well. Both candidates have stated that it is a lower likelihood that they can defeat the incumbent President Trump, but that they are challenging on principle. Regardless of who wins the Republican primary, the outspoken opponents of President Donald Trump are not just Democrats and Independents, but a few Republicans as well.