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January 1, GOP Ignores Trump’s Bid to Oust McConnell

Published

2 years ago

December 23, 2021

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead (Public Domain)

Former President Donald Trump’s calls to oust Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as the GOP leader have gone unanswered.

Trump and McConnell have been on the outs since the senator declined to help the former president overturn the results of the 2020 election. Last week, Trump issued several official statements blasting McConnell, saying he “saved the Democrats” by striking a deal allowing them to raise the debt ceiling.

“How this guy can stay as Leader is beyond comprehension—this is coming not only from me, but from virtually everyone in the Republican Party,” Trump wrote Thursday. “He is a disaster and should be replaced as ‘Leader’ ASAP!”

Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity have echoed criticisms of McConnell.

During a recent segment, Carlson announced that his show would regularly feature problems with McConnell, whom he described as “an instrument of the left.”

But the anti-McConnell sentiments have yet to penetrate the campaign trail. So far, only two prominent Republican Senate candidates have called for McConnell’s replacement — Alaska’s Kelly Tshibaka and Missouri’s Eric Greitens.

“You’re going to see a whole lot of leaders in the Senate, like me, not support Mitch McConnell for leadership because he’s anything but a leader,” said Tshibaka, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

According to POLITICO, Trump-backed Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) “has repeatedly declined to answer whether he supports McConnell.”

“Our only thought on future leadership elections is that we want to do our part to ensure that the Republican Leader is the majority leader, not the minority leader, so we can stop Joe Biden’s liberal agenda,” said Jonathan Felts, Budd’s campaign adviser.

At the same time, Budd’s opponent, former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R), openly praises McConnell’s leadership.

“Gov. McCrory had a great discussion with Sen. McConnell before deciding to run for the Senate, and he will absolutely support him for leader,” said Jordan Shaw, a campaign adviser for McCrory.

McConnell declined to comment on the situation, only telling reporters “good try.”

A new poll from POLITICO and Morning Consult found that 83% of GOP voters have a favorable opinion of Trump. Meanwhile, 41% have a favorable opinion of McConnell.