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Adam Kinzinger's take on Donald Trump may have shed light on possibility of shadow GoP swinging election Biden's way

When asked about the idea of a third party as a centrist option outside of the Republican and Democratic establishments, Adam Kinzinger said he was 'worried'

WASHINGTON, DC: Adam Kinzinger, who served as a United States representative from Illinois from 2011 to 2023, has hinted that there are many like him in the GOP "who don't agree with everything Joe Biden does but would vote for him as opposed to Donald Trump."

A clip of Kinzinger's recent interview has been making the rounds on social media. It shows the former congressman offering his takes on the current political landscape ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 

Adam Kinzinger's two cents on Trump

When asked about the idea of a third party as a centrist option outside of the Republican and Democratic establishments, Kinzinger stated, "I'm worried. Look, I love the idea of a third party. I love the idea of a centrist party. It has to start in the House of Representatives before it goes to the President. Here's the deal - I think Donald Trump's base of support is very firm. I don't think you're gonna appeal anybody off of Donald Trump into something else, right?"

He then insisted that there were many "like me" who would vote for Biden over Trump. "There are people like me who don't agree with everything Joe Biden does but would vote for him as opposed to Trump," Kinzinger said.

"If you give them an out - if you give them Joe Manchin or somebody, they'll vote for that person. I would say good, vote with your conscience," Kinzinger added.

"The problem is the consequences of a Donald Trump victory are so dire that I think you have to hold your nose and vote for somebody maybe you don't like...we can survive four more years of Joe Biden. I'm not sure we can survive four years of Donald Trump," he said.

Social media reacts to Adam Kinzinger's remarks

The former GOP representative, known for his disdain for Trump, was excoriated on social media for his comments.

"Did he cry during this interview?" one quipped on X (formerly Twitter).

"Again, Kinzinger looks deranged. He seriously needs to get psychiatric help," another wrote.

"I would be surprised if we survive 4 more months of Joe Biden…" a comment read.

"Listen to this F— pretend that he is not paid by the democrats to encourage republicans to vote democrat. He was installed by the Democrats to disrupt the Republican Party," someone else added.

"No one cares what Adam has to say. That's why he dropped off," another chimed in.

However, some users also nodded in agreement with Kinzinger.

"Lots of Republicans are coming to this realization. I still think TRUMP can’t win a general election," one wrote.

"There could be millions of closet anti-Trump Republicans," another added.

"Spot on, @AdamKinzinger. Thank you. Listen up, everyone, and vote accordingly," someone else gushed.

"It is really at this point a choice between good and evil. Biden is not perfect but he cares and works his ass off. Not to mention he knows who is president, unlike the other guy," a comment read.

"If only more were better equipped to recognize the threat and to have the wisdom to realize: Sometimes it's about the necessity to vote AGAINST something EN MASSE and STRATEGICALLY UNDILUTED numbers and NOT about voting for what you're typically FOR during more stable times," another offered.

That said, Kinzinger is probably right about closet anti-Trump Republicans who aren't comfortable making their stance public but will vote for any other candidate standing against the former president.

Meanwhile, among those Republicans who have openly advised against voting for Trump in 2024 are Former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis), Virginia Lt Governor Winsome Sears, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La), former secretary of defense Mark Esper, Representative Mo Brooks (R-Ala), Governor Larry Hogan (R-Md) and Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark), according to The Hill.