Former president Donald Trump issued a statement on Saturday night attacking Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
"I will not be endorsing, under any circumstances, the failed candidate from the great State of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski," Trump told Politico.
"She represents her state badly and her country even worse. I do not know where other people will be next year, but I know where I will be -- in Alaska campaigning against a disloyal and very bad Senator."
Murkowski was one of seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial last month. The Washington Post has reported that Murkowski "is higher on [Trump's] list of enemies than other senators and lawmakers."
"Some people in his circle doubt, though, that he will be as much of a potent force in the race because traveling to campaign against her would require such a long flight, which Trump generally avoids," The Washington Post added.
Many commentators also expressed doubt that the GOP senator had any reason to fear Trump.
"This is a dumb place for Trump to show his strength," tweeted Mediaite columnist John Ziegler.
So who is Trump going to support against her?!
— John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) March 7, 2021
Obviously Sarah Palin makes the most “sense,” but Murkowski might beat her in the primary and Palin wouldn’t win the general, especially if Murkowski ran again as an independent.
This is a dumb place for Trump to show his strength. https://t.co/pAhuAh8laI
InsideElections reporter Jacob Rubashkin noted that "Alaska's new top-four, ranked choice voting system insulates Murkowski from any real threat of a GOP primary."
Who knows what Trump will do or who he will back, but Alaska's new top-four, ranked choice voting system insulates Murkowski from any real threat of a GOP primary -- not like that threat has bothered her before...
— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) March 6, 2021
See some more reactions to Trump's statement below:
Considering @lisamurkowski is the only Senator in recent memory not named Strom Thurmond to win via write-in after losing a primary, I'm not sure this will be a useful exercise for the ex-president. https://t.co/5ps148IOIJ
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) March 7, 2021
Murkowski, a 3+ term sitting senator and the second-most senior Republican woman in the Senate, is a "failed candidate," says the recently ousted one-term former president https://t.co/LLObp7F8xH
— Chris D'Angelo 🌎 (@c_m_dangelo) March 7, 2021
This seems like categorically the stupidest possible move, given the current balance of power?
— Mari Brighe (@MariBrighe) March 7, 2021
Murkowski lost her GOP primary, then got re-elected as a WRITE-IN.
She could switch caucuses, be embraced with open arms by Biden & Schumer, and gain enormous influence. https://t.co/0zzN5X8fzO
In the weirdness that is Alaskan politics this will help make sure that Murkowski wins again. As many Alaskan Democrats continually cross party lines to vote for people like her or Don Young. 1/2 https://t.co/yryVwIBFdw
— Zach D Roberts (@zdroberts) March 6, 2021
This a good thing for Murkowski because Donald Trump is a loser.
— Laurie Zaks (@lzakshorn) March 6, 2021
