WASHINGTON — Former San Antonio mayor Julián Castro said in an interview with NBC News that he has "every interest in running" for president in 2020.

Castro, who served as housing secretary under President Barack Obama, is set to test a possible run as the headliner at the New Hampshire Young Democrats 2018 Granite Slate Awards Dinner, NBC reported Tuesday.

"Part of the process of figuring out whether I'm going to run is going to listen to folks and feel the temperature of voters," he told NBC. New Hampshire holds the country's first presidential primaries.

Castro, who was on the short list for Hillary Clinton's running mate in 2016, pointed to President Donald Trump as his inspiration for a potential presidential run.

"This guy is taking the country in the completely wrong direction and he's hurting people while he's doing it. I have a completely different vision for the country and this seems like an important moment to turn things around," Castro said.

Earlier this year, the 43-year-old launched a political action committee called Opportunity First, which sparked rumors that he might be gearing up for a presidential run. The PAC aims to help the Democratic Party groom younger candidates to take control of the U.S. House.

But Castro brushed off those rumors just weeks ago.

"The thrust of Opportunity First will be to support people who are running in the 2018 cycle. I'm happy to do it," he said when asked by the Texas Tribune if the PAC was laying the groundwork for a presidential run. "One of the advantages of not running [this cycle] is getting to spend time supporting people who are running, especially in Texas, but also in other states."

Castro is writing a memoir set to publish this year and teaching at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He is the twin brother of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from San Antonio.