Trump Celebrates Amash Leaving GOP

Leah Barkoukis | July 05, 2019 6:05 AM

President Trump celebrated Rep. Justin Amash leaving the Republican Party on Thursday, saying the Michigan lawmaker’s departure was “great news.”

“Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is “quitting” the Party,” the president tweeted. “No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!”

Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is “quitting” the Party. No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2019

Amash’s decision to leave the party was not surprising, given that he’d called for Trump’s impeachment and had already left the House Freedom Caucus.

Today, I’m declaring my independence.https://t.co/4e5TeVtGRK
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 4, 2019

“Today, I am declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party,” Amash wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post on Independence Day. “No matter your circumstance, I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us. I’m asking you to believe that we can do better than this two-party system — and to work toward it. If we continue to take America for granted, we will lose it.”

Poor dumb @justinamash chooses July 4 to declare his “independence” from the GOP. As if the GOP has been holding him captive! He joined voluntarily and he’s leaving by choice. This is like me declaring my “independence” from my United airline lounge membership. How brave of me!
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) July 4, 2019

As Matt reported on Thursday, Amash’s decision may not be simply about principles, as the lawmaker is facing a tough primary challenge back in Michigan, with his opponent ahead of him by 16 points, according to one recent survey.