Republican Senator Murkowski on threat of Trump retaliation: 'We are all afraid'

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski disclosed this week that the menace of governmental retaliation from President Donald Trump is existent capable to marque her anxious astir speaking retired astir his tariffs, enforcement orders and cuts to national agencies.

"We are each afraid," Murkowski told a acme of nonprofit and tribal leaders successful her autochthonal Alaska.

"It's rather a statement. But we are successful a clip and a spot wherever I surely person not been present before," the 67-year-old lawmaker added. "And I'll archer you, I americium oftentimes precise anxious myself astir utilizing my voice, due to the fact that retaliation is real. And that's not right."

Her remarks, recorded successful a video posted by the Anchorage Daily News, came connected Monday successful effect to a question astir what she would archer radical who are acrophobic of the argumentation changes being implemented by Trump and his advisers.

Murkowski is 1 of the fewer Senate Republicans who person been consenting to knock Trump's policies, reason immoderate of his Cabinet nominees and ballot to overturn his tariffs connected Canada.

She survived a Trump-backed challenger 3 years ago, aft voting with six different Republicans to convict the president astatine his 2nd impeachment proceedings successful the Senate implicit the January 6, 2021, onslaught connected the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.

The Anchorage Daily News said Murkowski criticized the existent Trump administration's attack to implementing argumentation changes and authorities work cuts connected Monday, describing immoderate arsenic "unlawful." The lawmaker besides said she would reason sweeping cuts to the Medicaid healthcare programme for low-income Americans being sought by immoderate Republicans to wage for taxation cuts.

"I'm going to usage my dependable to the champion of my ability," Murkowski said during an quality punctuated by applause from the audience.

"I've got to fig retired however I tin bash my champion to assistance the galore who are truthful anxious and are truthful afraid."

Other legislature Republicans person faced heated disapproval and adjacent shouting matches during in-person meetings with constituents angered by their enactment of Trump. Some person responded to protesters with constabulary arrests.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone)