Republican Bill Weld Calls For Less Government Spending, More Environmental Responsibility

Bill Weld (@GovBillWeld) faces an uphill battle. The former Massachusetts governor is considering a primary challenge to President Trump, despite the president's very high approval rating among Republicans.

Weld, who formed an exploratory committee for a presidential run, says, if elected, he would run things very differently than Trump.

"I'm running because I don't think the job is being done in Washington right now," he tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. "They're not serious about cutting spending or cutting the deficit. I don't think this president is an economic conservative at all."

Weld is calling for cutting spending and taxes, which he says would give businesses and employers confidence to make investments and hire more people. Weld also lists the environment as a top priority, even though tackling environmental issues is more popular among Democrats.

"I really don't think it's helpful for the president of the United States to say, 'Oh, all this stuff about climate and global warming is just a hoax,' " Weld says. "The evidence is pretty clear, and I think the president did the nation and the world a disservice in pulling us out of the Paris accords."

Weld also offers his thoughts on Attorney General William Barr's summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's report. Weld says he wants the report to be made public, and he thinks it will be. But he says the Mueller report answers a big question.

"The question that was answered is, did the man who was elected president conspire with a hostile foreign power to procure his own election and the answer is, 'No,' " Weld says. "So, phew. That's a big relief. And now onto the next."

Weld says he does not believe it's a good time for Democrats to talk about impeaching the president.

"I don't know that now is the time for that honestly," he says. "I think that there's some very troubling things that have happened involving Mr. [Paul] Manafort and the president that bear looking into, but to go down the road of impeachment right now is probably not politically the thing to do."

Weld is in New Hampshire this week, where a presidential primary will take place early next year.

Jill Ryan produced this interview and edited it for broadcast with Todd Mundt.