OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is not the voice of the GOP, former President Donald Trump declared after the Kentucky Republican criticized his party for censuring two vehement anti-Trump members last weekend.
Trump’s latest critique of McConnell comes after the Senate GOP leader condemned the Jan. 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol Building as well as the Republican National Committee for its censure of Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, the only two Republicans on the Jan. 6 Committee.
In his critique, McConnell used terminology that is popular with Democrats and left-wing media figures.
“It was a violent insurrection with the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election. … That’s what it was,” McConnell said.
McConnell told The Hill that, while he has confidence in RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, it is traditionally the RNC’s job to support all party members.
“This issue is whether or not the RNC should be sort of singling out members of our party who may have different views from the majority,” he said. “That’s not the job of the RNC.”
McConnell’s comments set Trump off.
“Mitch McConnell does not speak for the Republican Party, and does not represent the views of the vast majority of its voters,” Trump said in a statement released by his Save America super PAC.
“He did nothing to fight for his constituents and stop the most fraudulent election in American history. And he does nothing to stop the lawless Biden Administration, the invasion of our Borders, rising Inflation, Unconstitutional mandates, the persecution of political opponents, fact-finding on the incompetent (sic) Afghanistan withdrawal, the giving away our energy independence, etc., which is all because of the fraudulent election,” Trump continued.
“Instead, he bails out the Radical Left and the RINOs.”
Trump and McConnell have been at odds since the minority leader congratulated then-President-elect Joe Biden in December 2020 as Trump’s legal team was still contesting election results in some states.
The war of words continued to escalate after McConnell first blamed the Jan. 6 riot on the then-president during his final days in office, though the Kentucky Republican did not vote to convict him during his second impeachment.
In November, for instance, Trump blistered McConnell and 17 other Republicans for helping salvage Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
“It’s not infrastructure and we had 19 Republicans voting for it. What a shame. But Mitch McConnell gave this. That guy should resign as the leader,” he said. “He broke up the bills, and by breaking it up that was bad, but then he gave them two months to get their act together. They were ready to fold. We had them. And then Mitch McConnell gave them two months. This guy doesn’t have a clue,” the former president said.
“Very sad that the RINOs in the House and Senate gave Biden and Democrats a victory on the ‘Non-Infrastructure’ Bill, where only 11% of the money being wasted goes to real infrastructure,” Trump added in a statement. “How about all of those Republican Senators that voted thinking that helping the Democrats is such a wonderful thing to do, so politically correct. They just don’t get it!”
“All Republicans who voted for Democrat longevity should be ashamed of themselves, in particular Mitch McConnell, for granting a two month stay which allowed the Democrats time to work things out at our Country’s, and the Republican Party’s, expense!” he added.
Trump reignited his war of words against McConnell in December, calling him an “old crow” who continues to help Democrats with their agenda by giving them legislative wins.
In a statement made through his Save America PAC, Trump accused McConnell of “hurting the Republican Senators and the Republican Party,” adding that he didn’t “have the guts” to play the debt ceiling card, thereby giving “Republicans a complete victory on virtually everything. The Dems were ready to fold!”
