Adam Kinzinger Responds to 'Desperate' Donald Trump's 'RINOS' Statement

Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) responded to a statement from former President Donald Trump about political donations on Monday, saying Trump was desperate to remain relevant.

Trump issued the statement as part of an ongoing dispute with the Republican National Committee about the use of his image in fundraising solicitations for the party.

"No more money for RINOS [Republicans in Name Only]," he said. "They do nothing but hurt the Republican Party and our great voting base—they will never lead us to Greatness."

The statement called for donations directly to the former president's Save America PAC and added: "We will bring it all back stronger than ever before!"

Kinzinger, a Republican who represents Illinois' 16th congressional district, shared an image of the statement on Twitter.

"As I have said: Trump demands loyalty and gives none," Kinzinger wrote. "Statement of a man desperate for relevance but feeling the changing tides."

Kinzinger was just one of 10 Republican members of the House to vote in favor of impeaching Trump following the deadly Capitol riot on January 6. The former president was acquitted in the Senate.

Trump's latest comments come amid a clash with the RNC over the use of his image. The GOP has continued to use photos of Trump as part of its fundraising efforts but the former president has recently objected to the practice.

His team sent a letter to the RNC on March 5 asking the organization to "immediately cease and desist the unauthorized use of President Donald J. Trump's name, image, and/or likeness in all fundraising, persuasion, and/or issue speech."

RNC chief counsel J. Justin Riemer responded in a letter on Monday, writing that his client "has every right to refer to public figures as it engages in core, First Amendment-protected political speech" and that "it will continue to do so in pursuit of these common goals."

Riemer also said that Trump had "reaffirmed" to RNC chair Ronna McDaniel at the weekend "that he approves of the RNC's current use of his name in fundraising and other materials, including for our upcoming donor retreat event at Palm Beach at which we look forward to him participating."

That letter prompted Trump's statement about RINOs. Once a commonly used term on the right, RINO generally means any member of the Republican Party—especially elected officials—who is seen as insufficiently conservative. It had fallen out of favor to a degree during Trump's time in office but has recently been used to describe Republicans who are not supportive of the former president.

Adam Kinzinger has been asked for comment on this article.