The junior U.S. Senator from Illinois has reached a breaking point in support for his party's presidential candidate.
Kirk said Tuesday that, as the presidential campaign progressed, he was hoping the rhetoric would tone down and reflect a campaign that’s "inclusive, thoughtful and principled."
But he says Trump’s latest statements about a federal judge of Mexican heritage were dead wrong and un-American.
Kirk has said he’d support the party’s nominee.
But now, in a statement, Kirk says Trump's attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled “make it certain I cannot and will not support my party’s nominee for President, regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican party."
Kirk’s opponent, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth. has repeatedly tried to link Kirk to Trump.
Trump says his comments have been misconstrued.