Trump Rips McConnell, Vows To Support Rivals

Responding to Senator Mitch McConnell’s op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal Monday, former President Donald Trump rips McConnell in his most direct attack yet. He called the Senate minority leader a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack,” and said that the GOP would “never again be respected or strong” as long as McConnell is leading. 

RELATED: McConnell: Greene’s “Loony Lies” Are Cancer for the GOP

Trump Rips McConnell

Trump released a statement Tuesday in what analysts perceived as a response to McConnell’s op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal last Monday. McConnell wrote his justification of his “Not Guilty” vote during the impeachment trial. He defended it as a vindication of the constitution and not an endorsement of Trump’s innocence. He continued to insist that the impeachment is unconstitutional and that’s the only reason he didn’t vote to convict the former president. 

In addition, Trump also repeated the claims that McConnell is soft on China. He claims that the minority leader won’t engage China as he is married to Ellen Chao, who has Taiwanese roots. Chao is also Trump’s former Transportation Secretary. “McConnell has no credibility on China because of his family’s substantial Chinese business holdings. He does nothing on this tremendous economic and military threat,” he wrote. 

Single-Handedly Saved the Senate 

Trump also said that he helped save the GOP’s senate numbers. “In ‘Mitch’s Senate,' over the last two election cycles, I single-handedly saved at least 12 Senate seats, more than eight in the 2020 cycle alone,” he said. However, the Georgia loss wiped their lead, so now they had to contend with a Democrat majority. 

The former president pointed to McConnell as the main culprit why the GOP lost both Senate seats in the Georgia runoff elections last January. He added that Democrats, especially Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) played McConnell like a fiddle. Also, he said he wanted a stimulus check of at least $2,000 per person, which is the same as what the Democrats wanted. However, McConnell only wanted $600. Also, he maintained that the Republicans lost Georgia because they failed to uphold election integrity in the state. “Many Republicans in Georgia voted Democrat, or just didn’t vote, because of their anguish at their inept Governor, Brian Kemp, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and the Republican Party, for not doing its job on Election Integrity during the 2020 Presidential race,” he said. 

Animosity Between the Two 

After the 2020 elections, the two GOP leaders' paths separated when McConnell asked party members to recognize the victory of Trump’s rival, Joe Biden. During the time, Trump insisted that Democrats rigged the elections and stole the votes. As a result, Trump rips McConnell and his decision, swearing to support the latter’s primary rivals in the next election. 

Meanwhile, McConnell took to the Senate floor last Saturday after Trump's acquittal. He argued that despite his vote to acquit, it was only because of the trial’s unconstitutionality. He still finds Trump guilty for the events that led to the January 6 Capitol riots. A “growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth” gave the mob justification to storm Congress. McConnell also left the doors open for a criminal suit against his party mate. “President Trump is still liable for everything he did while in office. He didn't get away with anything yet. We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation,” McConnell suggested.

‘Moral Responsibility’

The Wall Street Op-ed further pushed McConnell’s justification of his hand washing from the impeachment. “There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility. His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world’s largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended,” he said. 

For that, Trump vows to support stronger and more credible leadership that McConnell doesn’t seem to have. He will back candidates “who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First,” such as those who offer strong and compassionate leadership. This way, the gains he made for the US can return. “Illegals are pouring in, pipelines are being stopped, taxes will be going up, and we will no longer be energy independent,” Trump noted.

Watch the CNN News video reporting on Trump’s scathing rebuke against Mitch McConnell:

Do you agree with former President Trump’s scathing remarks against Senator Mitch McConnell? Does the latter deserve the rebuke? Let us know what you think. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.