CIA Enters Its Presidential Candidate Into the Race?

There’s another addition to the GOP presidential primary field.

Will Hurd, former U.S. representative for Texas’s 23rd congressional district, declared his candidacy Thursday.

Hurd is a former CIA clandestine officer who spent nine years in the agency.

“If we nominate a lawless, selfish, failed politician like Donald Trump who lost the House, the Senate and the White House, we all know Joe Biden will win again,” Hurd said in his campaign video posted to Twitter.

“I envision an America where the economy thrives because we harness technologies like artificial intelligence to grow American jobs, not unemployment,” he added.

WATCH:

I’m in.
Join me at https://t.co/UoYuhkf2zJ pic.twitter.com/M19lU9GzDh

— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) June 22, 2023

“I’m sick and tired of Donald Trump lying to us. Whether you like him or not, he turned Americans against each other. You know it, and I know it. He couldn’t even beat Joe Biden, and now no one is taking him on and offering a vision for the future. That’s why I’m running,” Hurd posted to Twitter.

I'm sick and tired of Donald Trump lying to us. Whether you like him or not, he turned Americans against each other. You know it, and I know it. He couldn't even beat Joe Biden, and now no one is taking him on and offering a vision for the future. That's why I'm running.

— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) June 22, 2023

Hurd blamed Trump for Joe Biden’s disastrous border policies.

“Donald Trump running an entire campaign on securing the border and failing to do so is the definition of giving amnesty to those who cross our border illegally,” he wrote.

Donald Trump running an entire campaign on securing the border and failing to do so is the definition of giving amnesty to those who cross our border illegally. We need real solutions. Check out my ideas on my blog.https://t.co/EV2JINg1Da

— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) June 22, 2023

Hurd joined CBS Mornings to announce his presidential campaign.

The network introduced Hurd as a former “undercover CIA officer.”

WATCH:

GOP presidential candidate @WillHurd says that he is not afraid of former Pres. Donald Trump — and he is eager to speak with Americans in person: “America is better together and way more unites us than divides us.” pic.twitter.com/NANFHehh3A

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) June 22, 2023

CNN reports:

Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd on Thursday launched a bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, joining a crowded field looking to challenge front-runner former President Donald Trump.

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“This is a decision that my wife and I decided to do because we live in complicated times and we need common sense,” Hurd, who was an undercover CIA officer before entering politics, said on CBS.

“There are a number of generational defining challenges that we’re faced with in the United States of America – everything from the Chinese government trying to surpass us as the global superpower, the fact that inflation is persistent at a time when technologies like artificial intelligence is going to upend every single industry, and our kids, their scores in math, science and reading are the lowest they’ve ever been in this century,” the former congressman said.

“These are the issues we should be talking about. And to be frank, I’m pissed that we’re not talking about these things,” Hurd added.

Hurd has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump following the former president’s indictment on federal charges over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“Too many of these candidates in this race are afraid of Donald Trump,” Hurd said of the GOP primary field.

The CIA is no longer secretly backing candidates, they are just openly running now https://t.co/N1WcHnlva9

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) June 22, 2023

Daily Mail added:

His tours of duty included stints in India and Pakistan, where he worked undercover, at the height of the War on Terror.

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One of his first assignments was the U.S. intelligence response to the Al Qaeda attack on the USS Cole in the Gulf of Aden in October 2000.

Primarily, Hurd was based in Washington, D.C., where he gave intelligence briefings to members of Congress. This duty is what Hurd credits for his desire to run for Congress.

“17 months later, January 6th was still an insurrection. These hearings shouldn’t be about debating that, but about getting to the truth of who was responsible, holding them accountable, and making sure it never happens again,” Hurd tweeted last year.

17 months later, January 6th was still an insurrection. These hearings shouldn't be about debating that, but about getting to the truth of who was responsible, holding them accountable, and making sure it never happens again. #January6thCommitteeHearings

— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) June 9, 2022

“The GOP can’t build sustainable majorities if our candidates are praising Hitler on the radio, getting arrested by the FBI for participating in the insurrection or being evaluated solely on their loyalty to the guy who lost the last election,” he said in another tweet.

But the GOP can't build sustainable majorities if our candidates are praising Hitler on the radio, getting arrested by the FBI for participating in the insurrection or being evaluated solely on their loyalty to the guy who lost the last election.

— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) June 9, 2022