Donald Trump ‘needs to be stopped’, says independent US election candidate Evan McMullin

‘We need to stop Donald Trump, we need to come to a consensus that he simply cannot be the president of the United States’

Former CIA agent Evan McMullin announces his presidential campaign as an Independent candidate (Getty)

A former CIA operative and Republican policy advisor has said he is running as an independent candidate in the US presidential election because Donald Trump “needs to be stopped”.

Evan McMullin launched his campaign for the White House on Monday amid deep anxiety within the Republican Party over its outspoken nominee.

The chief policy director of the House Republican Conference, Mr McMullin is an outspoken critic of Mr Trump and backed by an anti-Trump group.

Speaking on Friday, Mr McMullin said the business mogul was unfit to be president and he hoped his bid would give people another option.

“We need to stop Donald Trump, we need to come to a consensus that he simply cannot be the president of the United States and let’s look for a another option and I hope to be that other option,” Mr McMillan told ITV News.

Asked if he had any concerns about potentially aiding Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid by splitting the Republican vote, he said: “[Mr Trump’s] already losing.

“He’s losing because of his own lack of ability to compete with Hilary Clinton who isn’t a strong candidate; in fact, I think she’s one of the weakest the Democrats have put forth in some decades.”

There has been growing criticism of Mr Trump and his tumultuous public performances from members of both the Democrat and Republican parties.

On Friday, it was revealed that Republican senators and congressmen are so concerned Mr Trump could undermine their chances of being re-elected, more than 70 have signed an open letter to the Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, urging him to stop funding Mr Trump’s campaign and shift contributions to Senate and House races.

Last week, a group of 50 Republican national security officials spoke out against Mr Trump and said his ascent to the White House could threaten the nation’s safety.

Mr McMullin, 40, who has never held elective office, has been drafted by a group called “Better for America”, led by Republican consultant Rick Wilson and Florida-based pollster and operative Joel Searby, who had been trying for months to find a suitable candidate to make an independent run.

He has already missed the deadline to be named on the ballot paper in 33 states, but can still run in 17 if he garners enough support. In three of these states – Iowa, Arizona and Virginia – polls indicate an independent candidate could have a significant influence.

Mr Trump is currently languishing in the polls. An average of polls collated by Real Clear Politics currently places Mr Trump up to 10 points behind Ms Clinton.