Will Justin Amash Run for President as a Libertarian in 2020?

Freedomfest, a largely libertarian gath­ ering in Las Vegas with a significant con­ servative presence, has been tacking in a noticeably Trumpian direction since the future president spoke there in 2015.

- Matt Welch

So the latest iteration of the conference this July was an interesting backdrop to specu­ lation that newly independent Michigan Rep. Justin Amash might seek to chal­ lenge a chief executive against whom he was the only Republican to back impeach­ ment proceedings.

“I respect what Justin has done,” said his best friend in Congress, Rep. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.), while sitting on a FreedomFest panel with Amash and Sen. Mike Lee (R–Utah). “But what I say is, if you read the Republican platform, there’s really nothing wrong with it, if you’re for smaller government and for liberty and support the Constitution. The problem is, if you follow the Republican platform as a Republican when you get to D.C., you will be reviled for it.”

Massie, a four­term libertarian­leaner, has experienced what it’s like to be reviled by your own team. In early July, the Louis­ ville Courier-Journal reported that Massie will likely face a primary challenge backed by national Republican leaders who are angry at his ideological obstinance.