Former Representative Adam Kinzinger has expressed deep disappointment in House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) regarding his remarks about former President Donald Trump’s recent conviction. Kinzinger, now a senior political commentator at CNN, criticized Johnson's assertion that Trump’s guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records would likely secure him a second term in the White House.
Kinzinger, himself a person of faith, found Johnson’s comments particularly troubling. “As a person of faith myself, I’m very disappointed to see a person of faith … especially in such a powerful position, lie about this,” he remarked.
Kinzinger pointed out that the notion of Trump’s conviction directly influencing his chances of reelection is misleading. He argued, “I don’t think you can just take it right to the U.S. Supreme Court, but from the raw political perspective … I don’t think there is a single person that was committed to Joe Biden that, because of these felonies, has now said, ‘I’m going to vote for Donald Trump.’”
Kinzinger attributed the spread of this narrative to social media and what he termed “mass psychosis.” He believes that while a segment of Trump’s staunchest supporters might be energized by the conviction, the broader American public finds the situation disconcerting.
“It may please 30% of the most hardcore Trump base, but the rest of America is going, ‘Wow, this is weird,’” he explained.
As one of the most vocal conservative critics of Trump, Kinzinger has consistently stood against the former president’s actions and rhetoric. He was one of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and served alongside former Representative Liz Cheney on the select subcommittee investigating the attack.
Reflecting on the broader Republican reaction to Trump’s conviction, Kinzinger noted that while some Republicans might be uneasy about supporting a convicted felon, the overall impact might be limited. “I think there are people, Republicans particularly, not a ton of them, but some that are uncomfortable voting for a convicted felon,” he stated.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to be officially named the party’s presidential nominee. This timing adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding political drama, with the GOP navigating the implications of having a leading candidate facing a criminal sentence.
Kinzinger’s comments highlight a significant divide within the Republican Party, as it grapples with Trump’s legal troubles and their potential impact on his political future. As the situation develops, the party’s response will likely play a crucial role in shaping the 2024 presidential election landscape.