Murkowski told reporters that Mattis coming out may make some leaders "more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally."
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska came out Thursday with surprising comments, given her history of trying to thread the rhetorical needle during the Trump presidency. Murkowski, who is not up for reelection until 2022, told congressional reporters that she found the criticism of President Trump by former Defense Secretary James Mattis to be"true, honest, necessary and overdue.
" "Perhaps we're getting to the point where we can be more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally, and have the courage of our own convictions to speak up," Murkowski said, according to reporters on Capitol Hill. As for whether she would support President Trump in 2020, she reportedly said"I'm struggling with it." Often lumped in with fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Murkowski has faced criticism over the past three years for waffling on key issues in the Trump presidency, such as when she voted to block witnesses and ultimately acquit Trump during impeachment. Murkowski's personal brand in Alaska, stemming from her father's tenure as senator — he also appointed her to the job — keeps her more insulated than other Senate Republicans from facing the full ire of Trump's base. Story continuesBack in 2010, Murkowski even managed to win back her seat as a write-in candidate after losing in the GOP primary. Asked if she agrees with Mattis' assessment of Trump, which concluded that the president"does not even pretend to try" to unite the Country, Murkowski said"Yes I do." She was also joined Thursday by GOP colleague Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who called Mattis"an American patriot of extraordinary service and sacrifice and great judgment." Asked by a congressional reporter if he agreed with Mattis, Romney replied"Well, you've seen my comments."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Former Defense Secretary Mattis Issues Stunning Rebuke Of TrumpFormer Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced Trump's reaction to nationwide protests for George Floyd in a scathing statement. 'Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try.'
Read more »
'Enough is enough': Former Defense Secretary Mattis blasts President Trump over handling of protestsJames Mattis, President Trump's former Defense Secretary, blasted the commander-in-chief over how he has handled the wave of protests surrounding the death of George Floyd.
Read more »
Mattis Calls Trump Unfit. Trump Calls Mattis Yet Another of His Terrible Hires.James Mattis wrote a scathing op-ed describing Trump as a threat to the Constitution and lacking the maturity to govern. Trump's response only seemed to confirm Mattis’s claims about his unfitness for office. jonathanchait writes
Read more »
'Stunning,' 'powerful,' 'overdue': Romney, Murkowski praise Mattis' stinging Trump rebukeRepublican Sen. Murkowski on Thursday praised former Defense Sec. Mattis' new op-ed critique of President Trump as 'true and honest and necessary and overdue.'
Read more »