‘We are all afraid’: Murkowski speaks on ‘real’ fear of retaliation from Trump administration
This week, the senator mentioned that she has been “just trying to listen as carefully as I can to what is happening."
TroibNews 
Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed that the fear of retaliation during President Donald Trump's administration has escalated to unprecedented levels, revealing this week that the anxiety is so widespread that even she, known for her outspoken stance, often feels "very anxious" about voicing her opinions due to concerns of retribution.
During a conference with nonprofit and tribal leaders in Anchorage on Monday, the Alaska senator, a notable critic of Trump within the Republican Party, made this candid acknowledgment. In response to a query about how to reassure those feeling afraid in today's political climate, Murkowski stated, “We are all afraid.”
After a significant pause, she elaborated, “It’s quite a statement. We’re in a time and place where — I don’t know, I certainly have not — I have not been here before. And I’ll tell you, I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that’s not right. But that’s what you’ve asked me to do and so I’m going to use my voice to the best of my ability.”
Murkowski has consistently challenged Trump's policies amid widespread support for him among her fellow Republicans. She criticized the president for “walking away from our allies” while increasingly aligning with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and publicly demeaning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additionally, she has been vocally opposed to the Department of Government Efficiency’s significant layoffs and drastic cuts to government agencies.
The senator mentioned this week that she has been “just trying to listen as carefully as I can to what is happening” and to address the “impacts it is having on the ground.”
Although she did not explicitly reference Trump in a video of her remarks shared by an Alaskan newspaper, she remarked, “It is as hard as anything I’ve engaged in in the 20-plus years I have been in the Senate.” She later shared with the Anchorage Daily News accounts of constituents approaching her in tears, detailing experiences of being abruptly fired or expressing fear of speaking out about their situations due to potential retaliation from their employers or agencies.
Last month, Murkowski stated that she would not "compromise my own integrity" by remaining silent in the face of Elon Musk's actions that have adversely affected government agencies, resulting in the termination of long-standing federal programs and thousands of job losses.
Murkowski, who overcame a challenge from a Trump-backed adversary in 2022, asserted last month that she would not be intimidated into conformity, regardless of any threats of primary challenges—even if Musk were to invest heavily in supporting a potential opponent. She is not facing reelection until 2028.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
During a conference with nonprofit and tribal leaders in Anchorage on Monday, the Alaska senator, a notable critic of Trump within the Republican Party, made this candid acknowledgment. In response to a query about how to reassure those feeling afraid in today's political climate, Murkowski stated, “We are all afraid.”
After a significant pause, she elaborated, “It’s quite a statement. We’re in a time and place where — I don’t know, I certainly have not — I have not been here before. And I’ll tell you, I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that’s not right. But that’s what you’ve asked me to do and so I’m going to use my voice to the best of my ability.”
Murkowski has consistently challenged Trump's policies amid widespread support for him among her fellow Republicans. She criticized the president for “walking away from our allies” while increasingly aligning with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and publicly demeaning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additionally, she has been vocally opposed to the Department of Government Efficiency’s significant layoffs and drastic cuts to government agencies.
The senator mentioned this week that she has been “just trying to listen as carefully as I can to what is happening” and to address the “impacts it is having on the ground.”
Although she did not explicitly reference Trump in a video of her remarks shared by an Alaskan newspaper, she remarked, “It is as hard as anything I’ve engaged in in the 20-plus years I have been in the Senate.” She later shared with the Anchorage Daily News accounts of constituents approaching her in tears, detailing experiences of being abruptly fired or expressing fear of speaking out about their situations due to potential retaliation from their employers or agencies.
Last month, Murkowski stated that she would not "compromise my own integrity" by remaining silent in the face of Elon Musk's actions that have adversely affected government agencies, resulting in the termination of long-standing federal programs and thousands of job losses.
Murkowski, who overcame a challenge from a Trump-backed adversary in 2022, asserted last month that she would not be intimidated into conformity, regardless of any threats of primary challenges—even if Musk were to invest heavily in supporting a potential opponent. She is not facing reelection until 2028.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
