Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, long considered a centrist voice within the Republican Party, made a striking admission during a recent town hall in her home state: she is “afraid” of Donald Trump and feels “very anxious” about speaking out against the former president due to fears of retaliation.
Responding to an audience member’s concerns about fear surrounding the Trump administration, Murkowski said:
“We are all afraid. Okay?… 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.”
Despite those fears, Murkowski pledged to continue using her voice in what she described as a balance between confrontation and tact, relying at times on what she called her “mother’s charm” to affect change through personal relationships in Washington.
Defiance and Dissent
Although she acknowledged the personal risk involved, Murkowski has not shied away from publicly opposing Trump’s agenda. She was one of only a handful of Republicans to vote against key Trump cabinet nominees, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel — both of whom were confirmed by razor-thin margins.
Her criticism hasn’t been limited to domestic policy. Following a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Murkowski expressed deep discomfort.
“I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world,” she posted on X.
A Party Divided
Murkowski’s remarks highlight the deepening rift within the GOP between establishment figures and Trump-aligned conservatives. While she maintains support among moderate and independent voters in Alaska, her public admissions may further alienate her from Trump’s base — and raise the stakes for her political future.
For now, Murkowski walks a careful line — voicing her dissent while navigating a political landscape increasingly defined by loyalty to Donald Trump. Whether that balancing act will endure in the current climate of GOP politics remains to be seen.