--- description: Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has apologized for mocking his rival Rep. Tammy Duckworth's Asian heritage during a debate. title: Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk Apologizes for Insulting Rival's Asian Heritage image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3549fb3cf98a8216/6988abeb656a3fe83bbcda19/sen-mark-kirk.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2016 Election](/tag/2016-election/) ## 2016 Election Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk Apologizes for Insulting Rival Rep. Tammy Duckworth's Asian Heritage  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 28, 2016 4:48 PM CUT  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 28, 2016 4:48 PM CUT Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has apologized for mocking his rival Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s Asian heritage [during a debate](http://time.com/4548902/illinois-mark-kirk-tammy-duckworth-racial/ "undefined"). “Sincere apologies to an American hero, Tammy Duckworth, and gratitude for her family’s service,” GOP Sen. Kirk tweeted Friday. > [](https://twitter.com/MarkKirk/status/792038214877839364) During Thursday night’s debate, Duckworth, who was born in Thailand and is a veteran who [lost both of her legs in the Iraq War](http://time.com/4549113/tammy-duckworth-mark-kirk-military-war/?xid=tcoshare "undefined"), touted her family’s long history of U.S. military service. “I had forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington,” Kirk replied. His comment sparked immediate backlash, including from Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who [tweeted](https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/791990628263624704 "undefined") at him, “It’s really not that hard to grasp.” Watch Duckworth tell TIME about her history of military service [here](http://time.com/4549113/tammy-duckworth-mark-kirk-military-war/?xid=tcoshare "undefined"). ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4549439/illinois-mark-kirk-tammy-duckworth-apology/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4549439/illinois-mark-kirk-tammy-duckworth-apology/"},"headline":"Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk Apologizes for Insulting Rival Rep. 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