Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Klain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He ‘does not answer us at the White House’ Democratic anger with GOP explodes in House Murkowski indecisive over Tanden as nomination in limbo MORE (R-Ky.), Who just made former ex-girlfriend a few weeks ago President Trump
Donald Trump Senators gave no timeline for removing National Guard, Capitol fence explodes Democratic anger with GOP in Secretary of State House of Georgia, withholding support for ‘reactionary’ bills for GOP MORE on the Senate floor, blaming him for the riot at the Capitol, he said Thursday that he would support Trump if he wins the party’s presidential nomination in 2024.
“There’s a lot going on between now and ’24. I have at least four members who I think are planning to run for president. … There has to be a wide open race,” McConnell said in an interview. with Fox News’ Bret Baier.
Asked if he would support Trump if he won the party’s nomination in 2024, McConnell added: “The party’s nominee? Absolutely.”
The statement represents a remarkable sight for McConnell, who indicated after the indictment that he wants his party to turn sharply away from Trump.
This move drew criticism from other Republicans, and McConnell was silent on Trump in the ensuing weeks.
The remarks on Fox News are the first of McConnell’s to address Trump directly since the former president struck out in a scathing statement after the GOP leader blamed him for the attack on the Capitol.
McConnell, in the speech, does not sound like a Republican who will once again support the former president on another White House run-up.
He said Trump was “morally responsible” for the attack, in which a pro-Trump mob invaded the building in an attempt to stop the election college score.
Trump fired back in a statement calling McConnell ” a sad, grumpy and impeccable political heel. ‘
McConnell declined to comment on Trump’s criticism during the weekly press conference. After Baier played a snippet of his speech, where he issued the Trump critique, McConnell rather threatened to argue that Republicans are focusing on uniting against President Biden
Joe BidenKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He’s not answering us at the White House ‘Senators gave no timeline on removing the National Guard, the Capitol Fence Overnight Defense: the new chairman of the Senate’s armed services talks about the naming of the Pentagon policy, Afghanistan, more | Biden reads report on Khashoggi murder | Austin emphasizes vaccine safety in new video MOREsee agenda.
“My point is that what happened in the past is not something relevant now; we are moving forward. We have a new government,” he said.
McConnell also did not want to say if he blames Trump for the loss of two Senate parties in Georgia or that he thinks the former president should speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump will speak there Sunday.
“I have no advice to give the former president about where he should speak or what we should say,” McConnell said.
Republicans incited Trump after the Capitol attack, which directly endangered the former vice president Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard Pence The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – Fingertip on riots in Capitol; GOP frolicks up on Biden relief plan Pence visits senior members of Republican Study Committee The Hill’s 12:30 report – Presented by Facebook – the Supreme Court’s blow to Trump MORE and legislators in both parties.
But the former president maintains a vice-like grip on a voter base that Republicans will need to win back the House and Senate, and he shows no signs of pulling away from the political spotlight.
During the Fox News interview, McConnell emphasized the need to unite the middle-class party. Republicans have 50 seats, which puts them on the cross of the majority, but they will also play defense in 20 states by 2022.
“Let’s focus on winning the House and Senate in ’22,” McConnell said, adding that it would give the party’s next presidential candidate “whoever it may be, the best chance of winning.”
McConnell’s comments during his Fox News interview quoted Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham The passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is the first step in healing our democracy. Progressive support builds on extension of lower courts McConnell supports Garland for attorney general MORE (RS.C.). Graham, who traveled to Florida last weekend to talk to Trump about 2022, criticized McConnell’s floor speech.
“Very good statement by Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell tonight on @FoxNews, indicating that he has a positive opinion on the future of the Republican Party in 2022 and beyond and beyond,” Graham tweeted.