New York Times best-selling author Brad Thor dropped a major bomb-shell on Glenn's radio program Thursday, saying he's committed to running for president of the United States.
Glenn introduced his friend by reminding listeners about the author's courage in the face of controversy.
"I believe Brad is one of the most courageous people out there. Because --- he is in business. You're selling a book. And what you said --- I shouldn't say what you said --- because what you said was not controversial," Glenn said.
RELATED: Brad Thor: Trump Is a Potentially Extinction-level Event for Our Republic
Some may recall the flak Glenn received following Thor's fiery remarks about Donald Trump in his previous interview on The Glenn Beck Program.
This time, Thor took his challenge to the next level.
"I announced to Reince Priebus on Twitter, I said, 'If it takes announcing my candidacy to get onto the stage to debate Donald Trump, I said I would do it.' So I announced," Thor said.
Here's the Tweet:
If it takes formally declaring my candidacy to get on stage to shred Trump, consider this my declaration. #Thor2016
— Brad Thor (@BradThor) August 28, 2015
Co-host Stu Burguiere pointed out Thor might just get the debate he asked for.
"You've got Trump and Clinton against Brad Thor," Stu said. "Imagine Brad Thor going up against Trump and Clinton on the same stage."
#Thor2016
Listen to Thor's full interview with Glenn or read the transcript below.
Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors.
GLENN: Do you think the government gets to a point where they do try to take our guns or start to limit people's rights by saying, "Okay. All these people are on the No Fly List. All these people now, including soldiers are on the mentally disabled list?"
BRAD: PTSD. They want to take guns away from Marines. That's insane. I think they continue to nudge. I don't know that they make a huge step over the line. I really don't think -- they tried with Sandy Hook. You know, this is why it's so important that even if you are not a Trump supporter, don't -- don't vote for Trump. If you hate Hillary and you hate Trump, you still need to get out and vote down the ticket. Because the Republicans right now are holding the line for the most part against Democrats trying to institute more gun control.
STU: Yeah. I will say there's a million problems -- yeah. There's a million problems that we can point out here, of course. However, they did -- they have held the line generally speaking on the gun issue.
GLENN: Yes.
PAT: They have.
STU: But they did also propose two gun control amendments that Democrats voted against out of that four. But, still, generally speaking, they have done a pretty good job on this issue. It's just, you know, you never know when they're going to fold. But, I mean, when you have Sandy Hook and you have Orlando and you have some of these tragedies, the emotion of the moment pushes most of these guys over the --
BRAD: And that's the -- that's the problem with the left. Their answer is: We have to do something.
GLENN: Japanese internment camps. Japanese internment camps. They wanted the -- the government tried to do it the year before. They tried to put the internment camps in the year before. Nobody wanted to hear it. Pearl Harbor happens. Done.
STU: Well, that's getting into the war too, right?
GLENN: Yeah, yeah.
STU: People didn't want to get into the war.
BRAD: Let's be clear, Americans have to stand up. They can't expect their leaders to read their minds. You need to be vocal because they will roll over. I mean, I was reading something this morning about Hillary's emails and how they had to deactivate at the State Department, a bunch of protections against phishing scams so she could use the private server. Nobody at the State Department stood up to her and said, "Mrs. Clinton, Secretary Clinton, you cannot use a private server."
They rolled over. This is my consistent fear with DC, that here's Hillary Clinton, a powerful woman. They exposed the State Department to all sorts of stuff because it was Hillary Clinton. Nobody will take a principled stand in Washington. Very few people will. So if we won't as citizens -- these people work for us. We are stewards of this republic. We must hand a freer, more successful, more prosperous, safer nation to the next generation. That is our number one duty as Americans. We need to stand up.
STU: Hmm. That was an impressive little -- I wouldn't call it a speech. I guess I would call it a --
GLENN: It could be a speech. It could always be a campaign speech.
STU: Because I know --
GLENN: Like a stump speech.
STU: Yes, yes. I know there's been people who are talking about a viable third party candidate who maybe knows a lot about the issues --
GLENN: But, Stu, you need somebody who is articulate. You need somebody who has television and radio experience.
PAT: But you also need somebody who is known.
STU: Yeah, who has notoriety already.
GLENN: Who is really intelligent. You'd need him to be able to appeal to a lot of people.
PAT: Yeah.
GLENN: You know, have a big fan base.
PAT: Hardly anybody like that.
JEFFY: Comfortable with --
GLENN: Oh, my gosh. What about Brad Thor?
STU: What?
PAT: What?
GLENN: What about Brad Thor?
STU: Not to mention, President Thor. We are the biggest badasses ever.
GLENN: I'm in love with it.
BRAD: I can hear my wife hitting the radio with a hammer in Nashville right now. Bringing a sledgehammer --
GLENN: You live in Nashville?
BRAD: Thor's hammer. Wow, I walked right into that one.
GLENN: Yeah, my gosh.
BRAD: I walked right into that one.
GLENN: Yeah, she's trying to, but she can't pick it up.
BRAD: And instead of the olive branch, the eagle could hold a hammer in one hand -- in one claw and the arrow is in the other.
GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. So what do you think?
STU: What do you think? We are David Frenching it.
BRAD: You are David Frenching it.
JEFFY: You're the man of the house, Brad.
BRAD: Well, I'll tell you, I'm just sitting back with a bag of popcorn, watching it burn. I'm looking forward to Kanye 2020. You know, and the Democrat primary with George Clooney going against Kanye West. I think that's going to be an exciting, exciting thing.
STU: I don't even want to ask who the Republican is there.
JEFFY: Yeah, no kidding.
STU: Because at that point, that might be the most conservative we have, is George Clooney.
BRAD: It could be the way we're going.
STU: You already challenged Donald Trump to a debate.
BRAD: I did actually months ago in the primary process. And I was originally --
GLENN: No, I don't care about any of this. That's the past. 2020. Or even 2016.
PAT: 2016.
STU: Because this is how you get the debate you've asked for. All you have to do is get to 15 percent in the polls, and then --
JEFFY: We can do that.
BRAD: With the radio show, you can get me to 15 percent? If you can get me to 15 percent, I'll run.
STU: We got Cruz to like 20 percent.
JEFFY: Wait.
GLENN: Right. You could get to 15 percent easy. You could.
BRAD: Just to get on the debate stage.
STU: Because then you've got Trump and Clinton against Brad Thor. Imagine Brad Thor going up against Trump and Clinton on the same stage.
GLENN: What do you think? What do you think? I'm being serious. I'm being serious.
STU: I'm being serious. There has to be somebody that does this. And why not you? Why not you?
BRAD: Why not me?
GLENN: If not you, then who?
PAT: If not now, when?
GLENN: Yes. Yes.
JEFFY: That can be your slogan.
BRAD: You need a really catchy slogan. You know, Thor, something. Who would my running mate be?
GLENN: Thor will bring the hammer down. Right?
STU: You need somebody with a last name "Hammer" is what we need. Thor/Hammer 2016.
BRAD: M.K. Hammer. Mary Katharine. Mary Katharine Ham.
STU: Yes, bring her in.
GLENN: Okay. So I'm serious. What about you doing this?
BRAD: I'm somebody who believes you actually should have some experience to run for this --
GLENN: Oh. Oh.
JEFFY: Oh.
GLENN: Well, we're not. So what about you?
(laughter)
BRAD: I announced to Reince Priebus on Twitter, I said, "If it takes announcing my candidacy to get onto the stage to debate Donald Trump, I said I would do it." So I announced.
STU: Look, Trump didn't think -- he wasn't getting in this to win. You can start it with that. And then when you get to 20, 30 percent and dominate them in the debates, then you can be like, "Wait a minute. I could really be president." And then you roll with it.
BRAD: And then I roll with it. Then I roll with it. Well, I definitely -- can I take the weekend to think about it?
GLENN: No. How about you, right now.
BRAD: Jeez.
GLENN: Okay. So let me tell you this -- let me ask you this.
BRAD: Yes.
GLENN: What happens at the Republican convention?
BRAD: That's the big question right now. We actually have extremely concerned Republican delegates that don't want Donald Trump, that see this guy as the -- what is it? The cyanide capsule that spies used to carry behind a tooth. And that we're going to pop that, and that's going to be the end of the Republican Party.
GLENN: Which I would celebrate, by the way.
BRAD: So would I.
GLENN: Not the death of the conservative movement.
BRAD: No, we definitely need a new party. And I think the Republicans are going to go the way of the Whigs.
GLENN: I do too.
BRAD: People say, this never happened before. Well, look at Zachary Taylor. I mean, this was a guy that hadn't voted in four years. Politico did a great article on it. Look it up. About that election with Zachary Taylor. But I really hope something is done. Donald Trump will not be a good leader. He lacks the temperament. He lacks the skills for the most important --
PAT: He lacks the knowledge --
GLENN: Got it. Got it. Got it. What I'm asking you is, what is going to happen at the convention just before you announce? What is going to happen at the convention?
BRAD: Well, I think I'm going to huddle with delegates.
GLENN: Do you think they're going to -- are they going to walk out, or are they going to give him the 1237?
BRAD: Boy, that's -- I actually think you're going to see some sort of a protest. I think you will see people walk out. I do think you'll see that. I think there are men and women with principles who are delegates. The party matters to them. The country matters to them. This is not going to be everybody folds for Donald Trump. I think we're sick of this being a reality show. There are actually serious, intelligent, well informed delegates that don't want Trump. And I agree with them. I don't want Trump. I don't want Hillary. And that's this country's last hope.
PAT: He still gets there, though, right? In the end --
GLENN: In the end, he's the nominee.
PAT: It's still Trump.
STU: I think he is.
GLENN: I think he is too. You don't think so, Brad?
BRAD: I don't know. What I think and what I want to have happen.
GLENN: If not him, then whom do they pick?
BRAD: Well, you've got to pick somebody. Anything can happen. I mean, this has happened in contested conventions before, but he's walking in with the 1237. But if they get enough people to change the Rules Committee -- get enough members of the Rules Committee that they can change things if they go with the -- I don't know. It's just -- and they are talking themselves into the fact that it's going to freak out the entire party. It's not going to. Trump has a plurality. He does not even have close to a majority of the Republican Party. This is not the will of the people. Sixty percent of the Republican primary voters voted for somebody other than Trump.
JEFFY: He's got the microphone though.
BRAD: Yeah, he's got a big mouth. He's got a lot of money. What has he done for America and liberty up to this point? There's a guy that could have been a huge force for liberty, and I don't think he has been. This is a guy who is a lifelong progressive, whose answer to every single problem has always been more government. This is not the kind of guy we need in the Oval Office.
GLENN: Hang on. Hang on.
JEFFY: That's the kind of talk that's going to get you elected.
BRAD: It's that kind of talk?
GLENN: Hang on. Hang on. I want Pat to go the audio vault. I'm going to do a quick commercial. We're going to come back. And I'm going to play the person that is running against him, and have you heard her lately? Did you hear her speech yesterday? Oh, my gosh. It isn't America that she's even discussing. We'll go to that here in just a second.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
GLENN: This is big. He has just committed he's in.
BRAD: Absolutely.
GLENN: He wanted to know -- we came up with a slogan. Drop the hammer of Thor.
PAT: Of Thor.
GLENN: Drop the hammer of Thor.
BRAD: Hashtag.
STU: I will also point out, Brad, as you're doing this other job that you do, Dreams From My Father came out in the mid-'90s and sold no copies. All of a sudden, Barack Obama starts running for president, making big presidential speeches, millions and millions sold. Foreign Agent will be one of the biggest books of all time.
GLENN: Foreign Agent will be huge.
STU: You're already starting at the top of the New York Times, by the way.
GLENN: Hey, hey, Dreams of My Father: Foreign Agent. All right?
STU: Now we can really --
GLENN: By the way, #Thor2016. #Thor2016.
STU: We're accepting Thor 2016 campaign art @worldofStu on Twitter.
GLENN: Right. Yes.
BRAD: @worldofStu. Now, what you're suggesting, and this is interesting because I do not think it's been done in American political history, is that I embark on this as a way to improve my brand. As a way to kind of make it more valuable.
GLENN: That's never been done before. That's crazy.
BRAD: So crazy, it just might work.
GLENN: It just might work. It just might work. You go in and you just say crazy things.
BRAD: Wow. This is an idea factory, this race.
GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.
#Thor2016.
Okay. Play a little bit of what Hillary said yesterday.
BRAD: I'm going to be up against her, so I want to hear it.
GLENN: Yeah. This is remarkable.
HILLARY: I believe the federal government should adopt five ambitious goals.
PAT: Okay.
HILLARY: First, let's break through the dysfunction in Washington.
GLENN: Yeah. With a hammer. With Thor's hammer.
HILLARY: To make the biggest investment in new good-paying jobs since World War II.
GLENN: We already did that. Yes.
HILLARY: Second, let's make college debt free for all.
PAT: Free for everybody. Yay!
GLENN: Yay! Dropping the hammer. Dropping that Thor hammer.
PAT: Yay!
(applauding)
HILLARY: And transform the way we prepare Americans for the jobs of the future.
PAT: Yes.
GLENN: That's right.
HILLARY: Third, let's rewrite the rules so more companies share profits with their employees and fewer ship profits and jobs overseas.
GLENN: Okay. Stop. I don't have time -- I've only got about five seconds. But if that isn't Marxism, I don't know what is.
PAT: Yeah.
GLENN: And what does this call for? Thor's hammer.
BRAD: Thor's hammer. Let's hit it with a hammer.
