‘I’m An American Before I’m A Republican’: GOP Senator Ditches Trump

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said he would not support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, largely because of disagreements on foreign policy.

“I’m an American before I’m a Republican,” Kinzinger told CNN. “I’m saying, for me personally, how can I support that? Because he’s crossed so many red lines that a commander in chief or a candidate for commander in chief should never cross.”

Kinzinger said he went to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland with the intent of mildly supporting Trump for president, but has since changed his mind.

“I’m a Republican because I believe that Republicanism is the best way to defend the United States of America,” Kinzinger said, adding that Trump “throws all of these Republican principles on their head.”

Trump has been outspoken about forcing NATO countries to pay what they have agreed to pay for U.S. military assistance.

Although Trump has been criticized for this proposal, it is true that NATO’s European members aren’t paying their share of the bills.

According to Politico, NATO countries are required to spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense. But as of 2015, the European members of NATO have contributed less than 1.5 percent, while U.S. taxpayers have paid more than twice the minimum amount.

But Trump’s proposal angered Kinzinger, who blasted the Republican nominee’s plan in July.

“It’s utterly disastrous. And you have allies right now. I have friends that serve in parliament in places like Estonia, that every day worry about the Russians deciding that this is the time to reannex and take them back,” said Kinzinger, according to Politico. “And comments like this are not only ill-informed; they’re dangerous.”

Kinzinger is an advocate for more U.S. intervention around the world, including in Syria. In March, the Republican representative called for “decisive leadership” in the country via the U.S. military, according to Fox News.

And in May, Kinzinger called for a “reconstruction plan” in Syria, led by the U.S. government, reported Devex.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton also calls for more military action in Syria, according to her website. And President Barack Obama has escalated airstrikes against the country in recent weeks, according to the Guardian. But Kinzinger said he wouldn’t support the Democratic Party for president either.

“There’s a bunch of people on the ballot. There’s a write-in option. I don’t agree with Hillary Clinton on a lot of things, most things, probably almost all things, but Donald Trump, I don’t know what he stands for in foreign policy,” Kinzinger said.

Sources: CNN, Politico (2) (3), Fox News, Devex, HillaryClinton.com, Guardian / Photo Credit: Adam Kinzinger/Facebook