Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has dismissed President Donald Trump’s criticism
Last week, Murkowski became the target for one of Trump’s attacks on Twitter.
Due to her support of former Defense Secretary James Mattis’ criticism of Trump following his threat to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, the president, in turn, threatened to not support Murkowski’s re-election campaign.
On Monday, Murkowski weighed in on Trump’s latest threat, standing by her comments in support of Mattis.
“I made the comments that I made,” Murkowski told CNN, adding, “I stand by them.”
Murkowski went on to discuss the importance of leadership qualities she believes a president should possess, noting the tone and words the president uses.
“Again, I think it’s important that we have a president who is working to bring people together. … And tone and words matter.” Murkowski added, “I cannot live in fear of a tweet. That’s where I am now.”
After Murkowski’s comment in support of Mattis, Trump wrote, “Few people know where they’ll be in two years from now, but I do, in the Great State of Alaska (which I love) campaigning against Senator Lisa Murkowski.”
He added, “Get any candidate ready, good or bad, I don’t care, I’m endorsing. If you have a pulse, I’m with you!”
…Unrelated, I gave Alaska ANWR, major highways, and more. Get any candidate ready, good or bad, I don’t care, I’m endorsing. If you have a pulse, I’m with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2020
Despite being fellow members of the Republican party, Trump and Murkowski have had a strained working relationship for quite some time.
Back in 2016, Murkowski actually made it clear that she had no interest in supporting Trump’s presidential campaign despite him clinching the nomination.
I cannot and will not support Donald Trump for president. He has forfeited the right to be our party’s nominee.
— Lisa Murkowski (@LisaForSenate) October 8, 2016
However, Republican senators still do not believe their opposition is worth jeopardizing a Senate seat.
In the wake of Trump’s latest threats toward Murkowski, her Republican senators are urging him to leave back off of his threat.
“I’d leave Lisa alone. She’s a member of our conference, and we want to keep it that way,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) also weighed in on Trump’s tweet admitting that he does not support the president’s threat “at all.”
