
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) praised former Defense Secretary James Mattis statement that condemned President Trump handling of the current protest plaguing the nation, saying his words were “true, and honest and necessary and overdue,” adding that she is ‘struggling” with whether to support the president.
“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,” Murkowksi told reporters on Capitol Hill.
“I was really thankful. I thought General Mattis’ words were true, and honest and necessary and overdue,” Murkowski added. “And, I have been struggling for the right words, and I was encouraged a couple of nights ago when I was able to read what President Bush had written. And I found that to be empowering for me as one leader.”
Mattis on Wednesday slammed Trump for his handling to the ongoing nationwide protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death, denouncing his former boss in a fiery statement that the president only wants “to divide” the American people.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) also praised Mattis comments, calling them “stunning and powerful.”
“General Mattis is a man of extraordinary sacrifice,” Romney said Thursday. “He’s an American patriot. He’s an individual whose judgment I respect, and I think the world of him. If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with — it would be with a General Mattis. What a wonderful, wonderful man.”
When asked about her decision to whether she still supports or will vote for Trump in November, Murkowski told reporters that she is still “struggling” to decide.
“I am struggling with it. I have struggled with it for a long time I think you know that. I didn’t support the President in the initial election, and I work hard to try to make sure that I’m able to represent my state well that I’m able to work with any administration and any president,” Murkowski said. “He is our duly elected President I will continue to work with him. I will continue to work with this administration but I think right now as we are all struggling to find ways to express the words that need to be expressed appropriately, questions about who I’m going to vote for not going to vote for I think are distracting at the moment.”
She added that questions on whom she would vote for president are a “distracting at the moment,” but affirmed that at the moment Trump is “our duly elected president” and “will continue to work with him” and “I will continue to work with this administration.”
“I think right now… questions about who I’m going to vote for, who I’m not going to vote for, I think, are distracting to the moment,” Murkowski said. “I know people might think that’s a dodge, but I think there are important conversations that we need to have as an America