Former GOP Representative Adam Kinzinger formally endorsed President Joe Biden on Wednesday, issuing a warning about former President Donald Trump amid the 2024 election.
Kinzinger, who represented Illinois in Congress, emerged as among the most vocal Trump critics in the Republican Party over the former president’s unproven election fraud claims. He was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building, when a group of his supporters violently protested the 2020 election results.
On Wednesday, Kinzinger made his support for Biden official in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“As a proud conservative, I’ve always put democracy and our Constitution above all else. And it’s because of my unwavering support for democracy, that today, as a proud conservative, I’m endorsing Joe Biden for re-election,” Kinzinger said in a video posted to his account.
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He said that while he does not agree with Biden on all of the issues and “never thought I’d be endorsing a Democrat for president,” he believes Biden is the candidate who will “always protect” democracy.
He also issued a warning about what a second Trump term would mean.
“Donald Trump poses a direct threat to every fundamental American value. He doesn’t care about you. He only cares about himself. And he’ll hurt anyone or anything in pursuit of power,” Kinzinger said.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump and Biden campaigns for comment via email.
Biden responded to his endorsement in a post to X, writing: “This is what putting your country before your party looks like. I’m grateful for your endorsement, Adam.”
The Biden campaign has sought to win over anti-Trump Republicans, particularly those who voted for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential primary. These disaffected Republican voters could be key to deciding the election in the swing states that will determine the outcome of the election.
Kinzinger’s endorsement of Biden drew mixed reactions on social media.
“Adam Kinzinger is a former Republican Representative who investigated January 6th. He knows Trump is awful and a threat to the country. Today he endorsed Joe Biden,” posted the account @PatriotTakes.
Writer Philip Reichert posted: “Lol a coordinated endorsement from Adam Kinzinger is going to do less than nothing for Biden.”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, responded to the endorsement, writing: “Oh look, Kinzinger finally came out of the closet. As usual, we knew all along, so not a surprise and none of us care.”
The endorsement comes just one day before Biden and Trump are set to face off during the first presidential debate, in which they will address the key issues facing Americans such as the economy, immigration and reproductive rights. It will also give each candidate a chance to dispel concerns about their age, as polls show the race remains closely divided.
The latest Morning Consult poll, conducted from June 21 to 23 among 10,159 registered voters, found the race is even, with both Biden and Trump receiving 44 percent support in the national popular vote.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.