Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday he is entering the race for the GOP presidential nomination, joining former President Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
"I have made a decision, and my decision is I'm going to run for president of the United States," Hutchinson said on ABC News’ “This Week.”
"While the formal announcement will be later in April, in Bentonville, I want to make it clear to you… I am going to be running," he continued. "And the reason is, I've traveled the country for six months, I hear people talk about the leadership of our country. I'm convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts."
EXCLUSIVE: Former GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces during an interview with @JonKarl that he will be running for president.
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 2, 2023
“I'm convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America and not simply appeal to our worst instincts.” https://t.co/Sl3cIF6wS0 pic.twitter.com/T4NA2R2oRD
While most Republicans have defended the 45th president against the New York indictment, Hutchinson has called on Trump to “step aside.”
“When a public official is indicted, I think with regard to the office, the office is more important than the person and they should step aside,” Hutchinson said Friday on Fox Business. “That standard should apply here. It is a distraction. It is not a good day for America, but the system has to play out here and we have to have confidence that it can.”
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Conservatives reacted to the news on Twitter.
Oh good grief. Rebel without a constituency. https://t.co/Kquyc78z8K
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) April 2, 2023
Former Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson announces he's running for president in 2024.
— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) April 2, 2023
He will get tens of votes. pic.twitter.com/qDhbEUV6A1
Calling it right now - former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson won’t even win the Arkansas GOP primary vs. Trump
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) April 2, 2023
Humiliation
Any GOP candidate who declares his candidacy exclusively on the mainstream media, instead of in front of or to a GOP constituency, is off on the wrong note.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) April 2, 2023
Appealing to the MSM lost its effectiveness for Rs 20 years ago.
This is a bad start for Asa.
https://t.co/Z6F3SX92Aq
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