At the DNC, Republican Adam Kinzinger Claims Trump ‘Suffocated the Soul’ of the GOP

Adam Kinzinger, one of the two Republicans who served on the January 6 Committee, lent significant credibility to the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot. Now, the former Illinois congressman is leveraging his Republican credentials to support Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

In a brief speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, Kinzinger fully endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket, expressing his commitment to "defend truth, defend democracy, and decency." He acknowledged the sometimes-awkward nature of this political alliance but emphasized the importance of their shared values.

Read More: The Full Speech Republican Adam Kinzinger Gave at the Democratic National Convention

Much of Kinzinger’s address was directed at his long-time foe, former President Donald Trump, whom he criticized as a destructive force within American politics. “Donald Trump has suffocated the soul of the Republican Party,” Kinzinger declared. “His fundamental weakness has spread through my party like a disease, draining our strength, softening our resolve, and leading us away from our core values.”

Following the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Kinzinger emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics. He was among the 10 Republican House members who voted to impeach Trump following the insurrection. Along with former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, Kinzinger was one of only two Republicans on the committee that recommended criminal charges against Trump. Notably, neither he nor Cheney remains in Congress; Kinzinger chose not to seek reelection, and Cheney was defeated by a Trump-backed primary challenger.

A former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, Kinzinger used his national security experience to criticize Trump for undermining the longstanding tradition of U.S. internationalism. “How can a party claim to be patriotic if it idolizes a man who tried to overturn a free and fair election?” he asked. “How can a party claim to stand for liberty if it retreats from supporting freedom in Ukraine—a battle between tyranny and democracy, a test of everything our nation claims to uphold?”