Wait … who? Political analyst Bill Kristol wants to recruit conservative writer David French for a third-party presidential bid in an attempt to defeat Donald Trump — but not many people know who the potential candidate is.
Several reports state that French was recently approached about the possibility of running for president against Republican nominee Trump, 69, and either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. French is said to be “considering it seriously and is in contact with lots of serious people,” according to CBS News.
But who is he? French is a Columbia, Tennessee–based staff writer for National Review, an Iraq war veteran and an attorney specializing in constitutional law. He is also the author of several best-selling books, including Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can’t Ignore, which he coauthored in 2014.
According to his National Review bio, French is a father of three children with his wife, author Nancy French. He previously worked as a lecturer at Cornell Law School and also served as a senior counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice and the Alliance Defending Freedom.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Kristol, 63, who is the founding editor of The Weekly Standard magazine, hinted that an independent candidate may enter the race for the White House.
“Just a heads up over this holiday weekend: There will be an independent candidate–an impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance,” he wrote via Twitter on Sunday, May 29.
Trump immediately fired back at the political commentator in a series of tweets. “Bill Kristol has been wrong for 2yrs-an embarrassed loser, but if the GOP can’t control their own, then they are not a party. Be tough, R’s!” he wrote, continuing, “The Republican Party has to be smart & strong if it wants to win in November. Can’t allow lightweights to set up a spoiler Indie candidate.”
The Republican nominee added, “If dummy Bill Kristol actually does get a spoiler to run as an Independent, say good bye to the Supreme Court!”
It seems the disdain is mutual as French isn’t a fan of Trump either. In a recent column for National Review, he wrote, “When I look at Trump, I see a catastrophe in the making. And for that reason — among many others — I cannot in good conscience vote for the instrument of national crisis.”
