Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska gave strong support for the words of General James Mattis in an interview with reporters, telling them she’s not sure she can support the president any longer. Her remarks have her trending on Twitter once again.
Mattis criticized the president for saying he would use the military to quell riots, if necessary. “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try,” Mattis wrote in a scathing statement.
“Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society,” Mattis continued.
“This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children,” Mattis wrote.
“I was really thankful,” Murkowski told a Politico reporter. “I thought General Mattis’ words were true and honest and necessary and overdue.” She told the reporter she is “struggling” over whether she can support Trump.
Murkowski is Alaska’s senior senator, and attracts a strong following from Democrats, liberals, and moderate pro-choice Republicans. Conservative Republicans in Alaska have had trouble reconciling her stances on various issues with their own values time and again, but she pulls broad support from the middle of the political spectrum.
“When I saw General Mattis’ comments yesterday I felt like perhaps we are getting to a 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 was quoted.
