© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

U.S. Sen. Duckworth Vows To Work With Trump To Reunite Nation

duckworth.house.gov

She may be a Democrat, but the new U.S. Senator from Illinois says she's prepared to work with President-Elect Donald Trump to reunite and heal the nation.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth is a veteran; she lost her legs 12 years ago while flying a helicopter in the Iraq War.

Trump will be the first President who hasn't served in government or the military.           

"He needs to listen to those who have served. He needs to listen to the commanders, especially those on the ground, and take their advice seriously,” Duckworth said, "and I hope that he does that. And when he doesn't, and when he proposes policies that I view as harmful to the people, and especially to our military men and women, I'll stand up, and I'll stand up and fight him on it.”

Duckworth made the statement before greeting supporters Wednesday in Springfield.

Duckworth will be a junior senator in the minority party, after Republicans swept control of Washington Tuesday.

She says that won't be a problem because she's used to it: The GOP has been in control of the U.S. House during her time in Congress.

Duckworth bested incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Kirk. He served in the Navy Reserves.

The political rivals are scheduled to meet Friday, Veteran's Day, in a public display of bipartisanship.

Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.