Close advisers and donors to Republican John Kasich have been indicating that the former Ohio governor has been actively seeking an opportunity to work for CNN.
On Tuesday, the network announced he’d be joining their team as a senior political commentator.
Kasich joining CNN, which openly skews their news coverage into opinion rather than fact in an effort to oppose President Trump, will only serve to fuel speculation that he is looking to run for president in 2020 as an independent.
“Kasich’s move to CNN is notable because he is one of the most prominent critics of President Trump within the Republican Party,” the network reported. “He has declined to rule out a 2020 primary bid against Trump.”
The signing also lends further credence to Kasich’s anti-Trump credentials.
SCOOP: GOP’s John Kasich is looking to join CNN or MSNBC as he considers running for president in 2020 https://t.co/67S8Z452NL
— Brian Schwartz (@schwartzbCNBC) January 14, 2019
According to sources close to the former governor, the only network he refused a role with was Fox News, where he previously hosted his own show.
He’s Running
A spokesman for Kasich denies that getting a high-profile role with a major anti-Trump network has any role in shaping his 2020 plans.
“Any announcement about a TV contract would have no bearing on his 2020 intentions,” Chris Schrimpf told CNBC. “All options are still on the table.”
A top donor, though, added that joining CNN demonstrates that “it doesn’t mean that he’s not running.”
John Kasich is weighing a third run for president against Donald Trump, whom he often criticizes.
Kasich says he would prefer to run as a Republican but could also run as an independent https://t.co/3fA51OAWjE
— POLITICO (@politico) January 14, 2019
Let’s make it easy on everyone here: he’s running.
Kasich was the final candidate to drop from the race in 2016 when Trump secured the nomination, and he has yet to rule out joining an independent ticket.
A poll in May indicated that Trump would trounce Kasich if the New Hampshire primary were held that day. Still, rumors swirled last year that the Republican was looking to join Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) for an independent 2020 bid for the presidency.
Kasich met with supporters and attended several events in New Hampshire just months ago.
Kasich is a Vocal Trump Critic
John Kasich is one of the more high-profile and vocal critics of President Trump, believing his actions are a quest for righteousness in an era of chaos for the Republican Party.
“What I’m trying to do is struggle for the soul of the Republican Party the way that I see it,” he said during a CNN interview last October.
Apparently doing so means joining the far-left in their Russian conspiracy theories.
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) August 13, 2018
Kasich has openly criticized Trump’s foreign policy on the regular, stating “When you spend your time running around getting into disagreements in a disagreeable way, it is pretty hard to ask your allies to support you when your going gets tough.”
Even on matters they agree with – the border wall for example – Kasich finds ways to dress down the President.
“The president and the Democrats need to learn how to compromise and put the American people first,” he said as the border debate and government shutdown raged. “It starts with the president putting the country ahead of his politics and being more flexible with his goals.”
“Our country needs real leadership to solve our problems,” Kasich added. “Right now it doesn’t look like that leadership exists in Washington, DC.”
This is, of course, the same man who once cited the Bible as a reason to expand Obamacare in his home state. He’s not only been anti-Trump, but he’s been decidedly anti-conservative for quite some time.
What better fit, then, than a role at CNN?
