She is a vocal critic of Trump.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, well-known for her vocal criticism of former President Donald Trump, suggested the possibility of departing from the Republican Party.
When questioned about the potential of becoming an independent, Murkowski emphasized her independent mindset and expressed disappointment with the Republican Party’s trajectory under Trump’s leadership.
“I’m very independent-minded,” she stated. “I just regret that our party appears to be increasingly aligned with Donald Trump.”
However, Murkowski declined to confirm whether she would entertain the idea of becoming an independent while still maintaining ties with Republicans.
“I am navigating through some very complex political circumstances. Let’s just leave it at that,” she stated during an interview aired on CNN.
Furthermore, the Alaska Republican reiterated her refusal to support Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
“I wish that as Republicans, we had a candidate whom I could fully support. Unfortunately, I cannot lend my support to Donald Trump,” Murkowski emphasized.
Earlier this month, Murkowski made it clear to NBC News that she could not endorse either Trump or President Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 election.
During the presidential campaign, Murkowski and fellow Trump critic Senator Susan Collins of Maine had thrown their support behind Trump’s challenger, Nikki Haley. However, Haley withdrew from the race after disappointing primary results.
Before Haley exited the race, Murkowski expressed uncertainty about her stance on the election if Haley withdrew, suggesting that others shared her uncertainty.
“Lisa Murkowski is not alone in this sentiment at the moment,” she noted.
Murkowski was among the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, making her a target for Trump and his allies.
Despite facing opposition from Trump and his supporters, Murkowski successfully secured re-election in 2022, defeating Trump-endorsed candidate Kelly Tshibaka, a former Alaska Department of Administration commissioner.
