Republican senator Murkowski 'struggling' over whether to back Trump in election

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) listens to testimony during the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response, in Washington, U.S., May 12, 2020. Toni L. Sandys/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said on Thursday she is struggling to decide whether she can support President Donald Trump's re-election bid, saying criticism of Trump's response to nationwide protests by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis rang true.

Asked if she supported fellow Republican Trump, who faces the nation's voters again in November, Murkowski said, "I am struggling with it. I have struggled with it for a long time."