Michael Avenatti says he'd run against Trump in 2020 to keep the U.S. from being 'destroyed'


Could there one day be a President Avenatti in the White House?
As the lawyer representing Stormy Daniels in her defamation case against President Trump and Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, Michael Avenatti is already Trump's foe, and he suggested on Wednesday that he wouldn't mind becoming his political rival, too. "IF (big) he seeks re-election, I will run, but only if I think there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him," he tweeted in response to a person asking if he'd run. "We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values, and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed."
He also revealed he's "solidly pro-choice" and would never "nominate a justice to the SCOTUS who did not believe in Roe or who would seek to outlaw same-sex marriage. Fully support equality for women & people of all races, & gay rights. We don't separate families at the border. And we don't kiss-up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." Earlier, Avenatti tweeted that "only a street fighter" has a chance at displacing Trump. "Otherwise, this country and its principles will be in pieces and non-recognizable."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 naturally disastrous editorial cartoons about FEMA
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on FEMA, the hurricane season, and the This is Fine meme
-
Amanda Feilding: the serious legacy of the 'Crackpot Countess'
In the Spotlight Nicknamed 'Lady Mindbender', eccentric aristocrat was a pioneer in the field of psychedelic research
-
Green bean, almond and peach salad recipe
The Week Recommends Thomas Straker's fresh dish is summer in a bowl
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel ban
Speed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
Elon Musk slams Trump's 'pork-filled' signature bill
speed read 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,' Musk posted on X
-
Depleted FEMA struggling as hurricane season begins
speed read FEMA has lost a third of its workforce amid DOGE cuts enforced by President Donald Trump
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain