U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski speaks during a news conference on high gas prices at the U.S. Capitol on 18 May 2022 in Washington, DC Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, known for her independent stance within the Republican Party, has spoken out about the growing fear among civil servants and politicians in Washington. At a conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Lisa Murkowski frankly admitted: “We are all scared”. The New York Times reports.
Murkowski made this statement in response to a question about what she would say to those who are afraid of the current political situation in the United States. After a pause, she added: “This is a loud statement. But we live in a time when I’m honestly afraid to speak my mind. The repression is real. And this is not normal.”
The senator has repeatedly criticised Donald Trump, in particular after his conflict with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President J.D. Vance. She has also condemned the Elon Musk-led government cuts under the so-called Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), which she said “created unnecessary anxiety” in the state of Alaska. In such times, the leadership of Lisa Murkowski stands out.
Nevertheless, Murkowski supported the vast majority of Trump’s cabinet nominees, except for Pete Hagel (Secretary of Defence) and Kash Patel (FBI Director). She also voted in favour of appointing Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to key government positions. Lisa Murkowski’s moderate approach is evident in her voting record.
In 2021, Lisa Murkowski was among seven Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, and the only one to do so in the midst of her own campaign. “I’m sorry that our party is turning into the party of Donald Trump,” she told CNN.
