File photo. Computer software pioneer John McAfee speaks with reporters outside his hotel in Miami Beach, Florida December 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Joe Skipper)
In case you were wondering whether the 2016 presidential race could get more surprising or headline-making, enter self-professed "eccentric millionaire" John McAfee, who has now put his hat in the ring.The founder of software firm McAfee Security filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday and also launched an official campaign website.
Is he a Republican or a Democrat? In the filing, McAfee announced that he is "founding a new party yet to be announced."
Right before declaring his candidacy, McAfee told Wired that he was still unsure of whether he would actually run.
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“I personally am still in a quandary about whether to run myself or find someone else for my party,” McAfee said. “My advisors are pressing me to run.”
While he wouldn't name who these advisors are, he did outline what he would like to see fixed by the country's next president. His main critique of government? A lack of understanding of technology.
"It’s clear that the leadership of our country is illiterate on the fundamental technology that supports everything in life for us now, that is cyber science, our smartphones, our military hardware, our communications," he asserted.
When asked if is candidacy was inspired by the early campaign success of another colorful executive -- Donald Trump -- McAfee declared that while he has "great respect for the man," Trump "has nothing to do with my decision to run.”
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