• More in GOP take issue with Trump’s tone on unrest,
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s inability to unify the nation at a time of grave unrest is testing his uneasy alliance with mainstream Republicans, some emboldened by retired Gen. James Mattis’ plea for a leader who lives up to the U.S ideals of a more perfect union.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Thursday called the rebuke by Mr. Trump’s first Pentagon chief “necessary and overdue.”
“Perhaps we’re getting to the point where we can be more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally, and have the courage of our own convictions to speak up,” Ms. Murkowski said. Asked whether she can still support Mr. Trump, she replied: “I am struggling with it. I have struggled with it for a long time.”
Ms. Murkowski’s remarks reflected the choice Republicans are forced to make about whether, and for how long, to support Mr. Trump when his words and actions so often conflict with their values and goals.
Mr. Trump has responded to violence accompanying some protests following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis by calling for more “law and order” to
“dominate” even peaceful demonstrations. He has been slower and less forceful in addressing racial injustice and questions of police brutality that lie at the heart of the unrest.
The nation is on edge, and Election Day looms, with the presidency and control of the House and Senate at stake. Mr. Trump has made clear that consequences for what he considers disloyalty can be steep.
Indeed, he promised Thursday to campaign against Ms. Murkowski when she is up for re-election in 2022. “Get any candidate ready, good or bad, I don’t care, I’m endorsing,” Mr. Trump tweeted.
Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana said Gen. Mattis was not discussed at the GOP lunch Thursday.