Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, 81, went viral Wednesday for freezing mid-sentence and staring into space during a press conference.
Now, former President Donald Trump is calling for the Kentucky senator to resign from leadership. In the last week, Trump has taken issue not only with McConnell’s viral moment, but also with what he sees as McConnell’s tendency to play into President Joe Biden’s hands.
In a Thursday interview, Trump fielded questions about the potential for a change in Senate Republican leadership.
“I think we have to have that,” Trump told Breitbart News. “We have some people in the Senate that are fantastic and would be great at that position. But it’s just amazing he would do that [that McConnell would remain in his role].”
Trump also addressed the viral video of McConnell freezing in place.
“I thought it was sad,” Trump said of the video. “That was a sad thing to see. He had a bad fall, I guess, and probably an after-effect of that… I hope he’s well.”
Other presidential candidates have also called for McConnell to resign. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Sunday on CBS News, “What I am saying about Mitch McConnell, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, all of them: know when to walk away… We have huge issues that need new solutions. We need new generational leaders. We appreciate your service. We appreciate what you’ve done. But this is why we will fight for term limits.”
However, Trump specified that he had taken issue with McConnell’s role even before the freeze.
“At the same time, I think it’s a shame he went so far out to give Green New Deal money to Biden and Democrats. He got 10 people to vote because they needed 10 people, and he got 10 people to vote on numerous occasions for trillions of dollars. I think that’s a shame,” Trump said, without naming a specific bill.
“It was also sad that he gave trillions and trillions and trillions of dollars to the Democrats to waste on the Green New Deal, destroying our oceans and destroying our great, beautiful vistas and plains all over our country with windmills that are very expensive energy. So that’s a very sad thing also.”
Take a look —
Exclusive – Donald Trump: Mitch McConnell Health Problems ‘Sad,’ He Should Step Down pic.twitter.com/Ibw1JZuPJd
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 30, 2023
Trump has also taken the opportunity to call for firing a very different figure, President Joe Biden. On Saturday, the former president apparently chided McConnell for playing into Biden’s hands.
“We have somebody that’s not at the top of his game, never was at the top of a game, never was. We have a guy who is a dumb son of a b***. And to allow this to happen to our country! Every dollar spent attacking me by Republicans is $1 given straight to the Biden campaign if he makes it,” Trump said at a rally in Eerie, Pennsylvania.
McConnell has criticized Trump’s endorsements for Senate races. Last year, he apparently swiped at the “candidate quality” of some Trump picks… and he doubled down after the midterms.
Speaking to NBC News in December, McConnell promised to “actively look for quality candidates” for 2024.
Take a look —
TRUMP: Biden is a “dumb son of a b*tch.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 30, 2023
The Horn editorial team