Staff Reports
Sunshine and rainbows? Not in the Senate, especially when it comes to Mitch McConnell. Donald Trump, that orange beacon of truth and tenacity, recently expressed his undisguised joy at the prospect of McConnell packing his bags and leaving the upper chamber. During a rally in North Carolina, Trump, while also taking his customary shots at Vice President Kamala Harris, managed to slide in some colorful commentary on McConnell, clearly jumping on the “drain the swamp” bandwagon with an unexpected twist.
In a moment of candid admiration for McConnell’s title as the longest-serving Senate leader, Trump revealed a grim truth: McConnell has been all too comfortable greenlighting excessive spending. According to Trump, it seems the Senate Minority Leader’s endorsement of him was likely one of those “painful days” that leaves one questioning their life choices. As Trump put it, it’s a wonder that McConnell still walks upright after all the smack talk headed his way. It seems that the “disgrace” of it all is a truth Trump finds hard to swallow.
Wooing voters in North Carolina, Trump says he hopes to rid of Mitch McConnell soonhttps://t.co/zUazJGiqli pic.twitter.com/nl366ibdBN
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 4, 2024
On a completely unrelated note, McConnell gave Trump his stamp of approval earlier this year after Nikki Haley gracefully exited the presidential race, saying it was “abundantly clear” Trump had the backing of GOP voters. This begs the question: is there a hidden agenda behind that endorsement, or has McConnell just long since resigned himself to the wayward ship that is Donald Trump’s political career? You never quite know with the man known as “The Turtle.” One minute he’s aiding in monumental conservative victories like packing the Supreme Court and slashing taxes, and the next, he’s navigating political waters that would make even a seasoned sailor dizzy.
Things soured between Trump and McConnell after the 2020 election fiasco when McConnell chose to defy Trump’s demands by certifying the election results. Apparently, the spirit of collegiality in the Senate doesn’t extend to brothers facing off in a political ring. And let’s not forget how they’ve held wildly differing views on financially backing Ukraine in its battle against Russia. Such bipartisan disagreements would rival a family feud over Thanksgiving dinner.
In what can only be described as an unprecedented announcement, McConnell has hinted at his impending retirement as the Senate’s Republican leader. There’s speculation whether he’ll even seek that ever-elusive eighth term, with many hoping the political stage will see a younger, more vibrant contender take the reins in 2026. At least Trump seems to think that without McConnell, the Republican Party’s ship might sail clearer waters, especially if we can all agree that sometimes, it’s best to just let the old guard take a permanent vacation.
