Jeb Bush says he hopes a Republican challenges Trump in 2020

Are we about to witness a resurgence of President Trump's brutal Twitter attacks against former Florida Governor Jeb Bush?
Bush, one of Trump's opponents during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, backed the idea of a Republican challenger to Trump in 2020 during an appearance on the Axe Files podcast, CNN reports, saying that members of the party "ought to be given a choice."
The former governor didn't sound optimistic that a primary challenger would be successful, though, noting that Trump has a loyal base and that it's "hard to beat a sitting president." Still, Bush said it's "important" for Republicans to have "a conversation about what it is to be a conservative," adding that "our country needs to have competing ideologies."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The feud between Bush and Trump, of course, was among the most bitter of the 2016 election cycle, and after dropping out of the race, Bush announced he would not vote for Trump in the general election, nor would he vote for Hillary Clinton.
One person who could challenge Trump from the right is Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), and Bush said on the podcast that when he listened to Hogan deliver a recent speech, "I kind of got a sense that maybe this was an opening," per CNN. But even if Hogan doesn't run, Bush may get his wish sooner rather than later, as former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld in February launched an exploratory committee ahead of possibly seeking the Republican nomination, saying that Republicans who support Trump "exhibit all the symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies