Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) criticized his Republican colleagues who have called for the public to move on from President Trump while also upholding him as the party’s leader.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Kinzinger was asked by host Chuck Todd to explain his reasoning that the GOP could not embrace Trump and his election claims.
“Well it’s two things. Number one, Trump set the table. He’s the one that continually brings up a stolen election narrative. He’s the one that has convinced, members of Congress, including what we saw a few days ago, to have a hearing on January 6th and claimed that this was nothing but a tourist group, or that it was hugs and kisses,” Kinzinger said.
“You cannot on the one hand say that Donald Trump is a leader or the leader of the Republican Party — which I believe he is the leader of the Republican Party right now because Kevin McCarthy gave him his leadership card. You can’t say he’s the leader and then say we have to move on. I would love to move on, Chuck,” Kinzinger added.
Todd also brought up Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) who was elected last week to replace Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as House Republican Conference Chair, and pointed out that she currently has a lower policy rating from the conservative organization Club for Growth than prominent progressive lawmaker Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). Todd asked Kinzinger how this squared with the Republican Party.
“Well I think what it means to say to any Republican that’s maybe kind of confused by the moment we’re in is policy doesn’t matter anymore. It literally is all your loyalty to Donald Trump,” Kinzinger said. “As I’ve said before, this is something that like echoes a little bit out of North Korea where no matter what policy comes out, you’re loyal to the guy.”