Kinzinger says the GOP needs to say it is not a Trump first party but a country first party

In an interview today on NBC's "Meet the Press," Chuck Todd said that it was Trump who rushed to share a photo from a meeting he had with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Todd said Trump wanted to counter the perception that he is alone and did this to bolster the perception that he is still aligned and has the support of the GOP.

"You know, I think your point about that picture is important. So it shows that the former president is desperate to continue to look like he's leading the party and the problem is, until we push back and say, you know, this is not a Trump first party, this is a country first party - in some cases you may support Donald Trump in that effort but in my case I believe that that's a whole new movement."

Kinzinger has started a "Country First" movement funded by one of his political action committees to challenge the conspiracy theorists and other fringe elements in the GOP as well as the right wing party aligned with Trump, even after the January 6 Capitol riots.

After his vote to impeach Trump Kinzinger has been disowned by his family. He will likely face a challenger from his own party the next time he runs for office. Kinzinger and the few Republicans standing up to Trump are facing backlash from their own parties.