Former Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh ends GOP challenge to Trump: 'Any Democrat would be better'

Joe Walsh may be ending his challenge to President Trump, but his 2020 battle is far from over.
Walsh, a former Republican congressmember from South Carolina, ended his GOP primary challenge to Trump on Friday morning after writing an op-ed that deemed his party a "cult." He'll now focus on convincing Democrats, Independents, and Republicans that "any Democrat would be better than Trump in the White House," he told CNN in an interview.
When asked Friday on CNN if he would support the Democratic nominee this fall, Walsh made it very clear that he would back "any Democrat." That even applies to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Walsh affirmed, saying "I would rather have a socialist in the White House than a dictator." Walsh didn't have a particular favorite candidate to endorse yet.
Subscribe to 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.
Walsh also called the Republican party a "cult" during the interview, like he did in his Thursday Washington Post op-ed. While campaigning so far, Walsh said he found that conservative media and Republican voters "have been fed nothing but lies and mistruths about President Trump, and that they can't be gotten back."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Jet fuel risk: what effect will North Sea tanker crash have on environment?
Today's Big Question Collision area has massive populations of seabirds, such as puffins and gannets, while porpoises and seals breed nearby
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 11, 2025
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - gotta move fast, payload, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Can Ukraine make peace with Trump in Saudi Arabia?
Talking Point Zelenskyy and his team must somehow navigate the gap between US president's 'demands and threats'
By The Week UK Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published