Critical words

Senator: “Can’t get behind Trump!”

Senator Lisa Murkowski(Bild: 2023 Getty Images)

US Senator Lisa Murkowski regrets Donald Trump's influence on the Republican Party and does not want to get behind him. "I'm navigating through some very interesting political times. Let's just leave it at that," she replied when asked whether she could imagine becoming a politician independent of the party.

"I regret that our party seems to be becoming a party of Donald Trump," said the 66-year-old senator from the US state of Alaska. There is "no way" she can get behind Trump.

As is well known, Trump wants to run for the Republican Party in the presidential election in November. He has secured his candidacy, but the presidential candidate will not be officially chosen until the summer.

Senator Lisa Murkowski(Bild: 2023 Getty Images)

Murkowski is considered to be rather moderate. She was one of seven Republicans who voted for Trump's impeachment in the Senate after the storming of the Capitol on 6 January 2021. What happened back then could not be defended, she said.

The former chairwoman of the Republican Party (RNC), Ronna McDaniel, also found surprisingly critical words in a TV interview at the weekend. The storming of the Capitol was "unacceptable".

It did not represent her party and not the USA. When asked why she had not found such critical words as party chairwoman, McDaniel replied: "As RNC chairwoman, you have to stand up for the whole team. Now I can be a little more myself."

McDaniel and her co-chair had announced their resignation at the end of February. Trump had previously nominated his daughter-in-law Lara Trump for the post and criticized McDaniel's work.

Majority of Republicans firmly behind Trump
The open, critical words of Murkowski and McDaniel are indeed remarkable. However, they do not change the fact that a majority of Republicans are firmly behind Trump. Critics of the 77-year-old have been dismissed by the party. Liz Cheney, for example, lost her leadership role within the party and ultimately also her seat in the House of Representatives.