Conservative Brief It is no secret that Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell are not best friends, but if reports are accurate things are about to get even more contentious between them.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that the tensions are so high between the two men that Trump is now actively looking for someone to primary McConnell in the next election.
âMr. Trump has spoken recently with senators and allies about trying to depose Mr. McConnell and whether any Republicans are interested in mounting a challenge, according to people familiar with the conversations. There is little appetite among Senate Republicans for such a plan, lawmakers and aides said, but the discussions risk driving a wedge deeper between the most influential figure in the Republican Party and its highest-ranking member in elected office,â the report said.
âThey ought to,â he said of senators getting rid of him from the job. âI think heâs very bad for the Republican Party.â
Republican senators questioned by The Journal did not appear to be eager to get into the fray.
âNaw, Iâm not going to get in that fight,â Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Trump ally, said. He said he believes that Sen. McConnell âis doing a good job.â
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy equated the chances of Sen. McConnell being primaried with the chances of a donkey learning to fly.
âI just donât realistically see that happening,â he said.
In July Trump took aim at McConnell accusing him of weak leadership.
In a brand new statement, Trump blasted McConnell for his âweak leadershipâ of the Republican Party.
âUnder the weak leadership of Mitch McConnell, Senate Republicans continue to lose. He lost Arizona, he lost Georgia, he ignored Election Fraud and he doesnât fight,â Trump said. âNow heâs giving Democrats everything they want and getting nothing in return.â
âNo deal is better than a bad deal. Fight for America, not for special interests and Radical Democrats,â Trumpâs statement continued. âRINOs are ruining America, right alongside Communist Democrats.â
It came after McConnell announced that he will vote to advance Bidenâs infrastructure bill that many in the GOP have opposed.
âBased on a commitment from Leader Schumer to Senators Portman and Sinema that the Portman-Sinema amendment to be filed will be the substitute amendment, I will vote to proceed to the bipartisan infrastructure bill,â McConnell wrote on Twitter.
Based on a commitment from Leader Schumer to Senators Portman and Sinema that the Portman-Sinema amendment to be filed will be the substitute amendment, I will vote to proceed to the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) July 28, 2021
Even when Trump endorsed Mo Brooks he took the opportunity to take a swipe at McConnell.
In an email to his supporters on Saturday Trump took aim at the 79-year-old McConnel as he endorsed Rep. Mo Brooks to be the next Kentucky Senator.
âI see that the RINO Senator from Alabama, close friend of Old Crow Mitch McConnell, Richard Shelby, is pushing hard to have his âassistantâ fight the great Mo Brooks for his Senate seat. She is not in any way qualified and is certainly not what our Country needs or not what Alabama wants,â he said.
âFor Mitch McConnell to be wasting money on her campaign is absolutely outrageous. Vote for Mo Brooks! He stands for America First, and everything Alabama wants. He also has my Complete and Total Endorsement,â he said.
And in April when he spoke to potential Republican donors he had less than flattering things to say about McConnell.
âIf that were Schumer instead of this dumb son of a b**ch Mitch McConnell they would never allow it to happen. They would have fought it,â Trump said of the Jan. 6 certification.
âI hired his wife. Did he ever say thank you?â he said of Elaine Chao, who he then mocked for her resignation following the riots that happened in the Capitol on Jan.6. âShe suffered so greatly,â he said sarcastically before calling McConnell a âstone cold loser.â
