Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) is willing to risk his job to try to save the Republican Party, as he put it.
Even though he voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Kinzinger has been outspoken on his disapproval of Trump following protesters storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
As a Republican, trying to be anti-Trump could be a âKamikaze mission,â as Kinzinger, who served in the Air Force and is a pilot in the Air National Guard, says.
âCould be a Kamikaze mission,â Kinzinger said during a CNN interview. âBut also could be the thing that saves the Republican Party.â
The Republican lawmaker believes that the way forward in âsavingâ the Republican Party is by âextractingâ Trump, as the CNN host put it.
âWe have a right and a responsibility to offer competing visions to Republicans,â Kinzinger said.
Watch Kinzingerâs interview below:
Kinzinger also laid out two âdefining momentsâ that changed his view of Trump, following casting his vote for Trump in the 2020 election.
âNumber one was the night of the election saying it was stolen, and, of course, Jan. 6 was the other huge thing,â he said.
The Illinois Congressmember was pressed on âwhat ifâ the Republican Party âdoesnât need savingâ or âwant to be saved.â
âThat, I think, is the question,â Kinzinger said. âIf it doesnât want to be changed, thatâs a decision Republicans get to make. If thatâs the case long-term, I think we will lose elections and will be a regional party that wonât compete on the national stage.â
