Troy, MI – Perry Johnson, Republican presidential candidate and third place finisher in CPAC’s straw poll, told Newsmax on Wednesday that while former president Donald Trump was the greatest head of state in three decades, Americans can no longer afford the level of spending seen under the Trump administration.

Johnson told Newsmax, “I still like him [Trump]. I just think he spends too much money and I think we have a crisis right now because we are now $32 trillion in debt and that is a problem.”

Watch the full NEWSMAX interview here

Johnson’s main campaign focus is the economy and bringing a solution to the nation’s debt and spending crisis. His Two-Cents Plan would rein in government spending by slashing the discretionary budget by two percent annually. Describing himself as ‘Yankee frugal,’ Johnson believes the government is overrun with unnecessary bloat and vows to bring quality and efficiency to the federal government.

Johnson helped revolutionize the automobile industry in the early 1980s. When the industry was reeling, he knew how to implement quality and efficiency. He went on to implement similar quality standards in other products, such as food, medical devices, and airplanes. A quality guru and professional problem solver, Johnson is now turning his expertise to the most inefficient institution in the country – the federal government. His new book, Two Cents to Save America, is a detailed plan for putting the federal

government on a two-cent diet to finally get spending under control and tame our nation’s record inflation.

Johnson kicked off his efforts with a Super Bowl ad buy in markets across Iowa and with his latest buy, has spent more than $800,000 on TV advertising campaigns through the end of March in New Hampshire and Iowa. Johnson opened his first campaign office in Ankeny, IA and has bus tours planned in both states throughout May. He recently announced he has more than $2 million cash on hand and has contributed more than $3.7 million to his campaign as he seeks the Republican nomination for president.