“That is kind of textbook racism and sexism,” Stephanopoulos told Walsh. The former congressman responded by saying Trump’s time in office has made him “reflect on some of the things I have said in the past.”
“Did you really believe [Obama is] a Muslim?,” Stephanopoulos asked.
“God no. And I have apologized for that,” Walsh said. “I’m bearing my soul with you right now on national TV. We have a guy in the White House who’s never apologized for anything he’s done or said.”
When asked, Walsh also told ABC News’ chief anchor that invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office for being unfit should be “looked at” because “we’ve never had a situation like this. You can’t believe a word he says.”
(MORE: Video: 25th Amendment: The basics)
Throughout Sunday’s interview, Walsh used harsh, inflammatory language to describe the president — calling him “incompetent,” “nuts,” “erratic,” “narcissist,” “bully,” “coward,” “completely unfit,” “disloyal,” and “un-American.”
Stephanopoulos posed to Walsh that in the past, presidents who’ve faced serious primary challengers tend to be weakened and lose in the general election.
“Are you prepared to take responsibility, if you do well in this, for helping elected a Democrat that some of your viewers and listeners will say, ‘Oh, socialist?'” Stephanopoulos asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Absolutely, I’m going to do whatever I can,” Walsh said on “This Week.” “I don’t want him to win. The country cannot afford to have him win. If I’m not successful, I’m not voting for him.”
Walsh said his campaign plans to focus on New Hampshire and Iowa and will be on TV as much as he can with the hopes of his long-shot bid catching on like wildfire. “And if you’re wrong?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“If I’m wrong, it was the right fight, because somebody had to do this,” Walsh said in response.
The former Illinois congressman-turned-radio host was once a fervent Trump supporter who’s become a fierce critic of the president. Walsh is just the second Republican to jump into the primary behind former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who announced back in April but has yet to gain serious traction.
(MORE: Trump challenger Bill Weld raised just under $700K in long-shot primary bid)
Walsh has acknowledged there’s little chance his candidacy will result in Trump losing the party nomination, and he is instead focused on offering GOP voters an alternative vision for the party.
Walsh only served one term in Congress, but his candidacy does perhaps bring a more current figure from conservative circles into the long-shot picture compared to Weld, who last held public office over 20 years ago. Walsh’s nationally syndicated radio show and large online following arguably kept him more relevant.
The Trump administration’s latest actions around trade and the economy along with what Walsh’s team calls an “incredible reaction” and flood of support to an op-ed Walsh published in the New York Times last week is what pushed the conservative radio host to jump into the race.
Walsh’s team says he is set to travel to and spend “a lot of time” in the key primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire in the coming weeks.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
