The looming end of Gonzalez’s tenure in the lower chamber does indicate Trump is “winning” the intra-GOP battle, Kinziger admitted, but he said that’s only because other lawmakers have remained silent during the tumult. “The future of the party and politics of this country doesn’t rest on the 10 of us,” Kinzinger said, referring to the impeachment supporters.

“The time for hiding is over, the stakes are too high,” Kinziger warned, adding that anyone who believes Trump truly is the party’s leader must “own his comments” or “denounce them,” while anyone who doesn’t think Trump isn’t at the helm of the GOP, “must publicly say that.”