By Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Arkansas Governor Asa HUTCHISON said Sunday that he was considering a bid for the Republican U.S. Presidential nomination in 2024. He stated clearly, however, that he’s not aligned with Trump or any other potential candidates.

Hutchinson is a former Congressman, and the head of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He’s in his last year as governor for the Southern state. Arkansas law prohibits him from seeking another four-year term.

Hutchinson responded to a question from CNN’s State of the Union that he thought he might run for the party’s nomination. However, you have to make it through the year. It’s possible.

Hutchinson has criticized Trump’s continued efforts to discredit the 2020 presidential election in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated the businessman-turned-politician.

Trump claims the election was stolen by widespread fraud in voting.

Hutchinson claimed that Trump’s decision about whether or not to run for office will not affect his.

Hutchinson declared, “I have made it clear that I believe we ought to follow a different path in the future. So I don’t agree with his endorsements but I do support the direction he wishes to take our nation.”

I believe he did a lot for our country but it is time to move in the opposite direction. So that isn’t a factor in how I make decisions.”

Trump mocked Hutchinson when the governor blocked a Republican-backed bill that would have banned certain treatment options for transgender youths. Hutchinson referred to the bill as a government abuse. The legislature then voted to repeal Hutchinson’s veto.

Bye-bye Asa! That’s it for him!” Trump made the statement, calling the governor a “lightweight RINO” and one of his favorite insults. It meant “Republican only in name.”

Hutchinson was last week at a New Hampshire political event. Hutchinson stated that he cares about border security. This includes cracking down against criminal cartels, and maintaining a COVID-19 related policy which allows U.S. authorities to rapidly expel migrants including asylum seekers to Mexico.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence, both former Vice Presidents, are potential Republican candidates for 2024.