U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Wheaton, walked away from reporters on Monday who asked about the effect of Donald Trump on the Republican Party.
“Oh heaven help me,” Roskam said as he turned and left the College of DuPage in west suburban Glen Ellyn.
Roskam and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner were at the college for a town hall meeting. The majority of the questions from the audience focused on the state’s budget problems.
But after the event, reporters swarmed Roskam, who has given conflicting answers about whether he supports Trump.
Roskam first told editorial boards he supported Trump, then said Trump still had to earn his vote. Roskam eventually went back to supporting Trump.
Roskam initially responded to questions about Trump.
“Both parties are feeling a lot of stress,” Roskam said. “I think the good news here is that we have a capacity to do something and to change our country and to move this thing into a different direction.”
Roskam said new leadership could result in bipartisan agreements to change what he called outdated systems, like the tax code.
But when pressed further on whether his party’s presidential candidate could win, Roskam had enough and walked away without looking back.
Tony Arnold covers Illinois state politics for WBEZ. Follow him @tonyjarnold.
