Move over Manchin, there’s a new sheriff ready to make America’s life miserable:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said during an Axios NewsShapers interview with Jonathan Swan that he’d be obligated to support former President Trump despite the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol if the GOP renominates him for president in 2024.
McConnell had not previously been pressed on the contradiction between his Senate floor comments in February of 2021 saying Trump was “morally responsible” for January 6th, followed two weeks later by saying he’d “absolutely” support Trump as nominee.
McConnell also stood by Justice Clarence Thomas’ decision not to recuse himself despite wife Ginni Thomas’ activism to overturn the 2020 election. And he would not commit to Supreme Court hearings for Biden nominees if the GOP takes the majority in November.
The Kentucky Republican previewed how a new GOP legislative majority would govern if they win in November.
He said it would focus on inflation, the U.S.-Mexico border, crime and pressing President Biden to ramp up domestic energy production.
McConnell is poised to wield a powerful check on the presidential agenda — and the second half of his term — if Democrats lose control of the House and Senate.
As majority leader, McConnell could force Biden to negotiate with him on everything he wants to get passed in Congress.
“If the House and Senate are Republican next year, the president will finally be the moderate he campaigned as,” McConnell said.
McConnell made clear his approach to supporting candidates is centered on their electability.
McConnell stood by former football star and likely GOP Senate nominee from Georgia Herschel Walker, who has faced allegations of threatening his wife with a gun.
McConnell said Walker “has addressed that issue repeatedly, … he admitted he has some troubles in his life,” but that “he’s been an exemplary citizen” in recent years, adding: “I think Walker is completely electable. …We’re fully behind him.”
McConnell declined to condemn or comment on Missouri’s Eric Greitens, whose ex-wife accuses him of abuse, and who has lambasted McConnell’s leadership. McConnell said the state’s voters would decide in the primary.
McConnell said it’s “important” that Trump-critic Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) defeat her Trump-backed GOP opponent and remain in the Senate.
While he supports one of Trump’s top critics, embattled Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), he indicated trying to save her would not be a top priority because she’s not in the Senate.
McConnell was unapologetic about his refusal to answer several questions or clarify past statements.
He said leadership isn’t about being popular, and that “I say many things I’m sure people don’t understand.”
Asked if the electorate has a right to know his position about handling Supreme Court nominees before they vote, he said, “I choose not to answer the question.”
He’s getting ready to take the reins — and run the country.
McConnell on polling showing a lack of support among Republicans for aid to Ukraine to take on Russia:
“If you look at the history of Russian behavior, it’s not unusual for Americans to be skeptical of any kind of foreign involvement.”
McConnell on calls for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ recusal: “I have total confidence” in all the justices to “make the decision themselves”
Asked whether he would hold hearings on Biden’s Supreme Court nominee if there’s an opening next year and Republicans hold the Senate, McConnell repeatedly declines to answer the question.
McConnell on moving from condemning Trump over Jan. 6 to saying he’ll absolutely support Trump if he’s the nominee in 2024:
“I think I have an obligation to support the nominee of my party…I don’t pick the Republican nominee for president.”
Mitch McConnell on extreme Republican midterm Senate candidates: “I’m pretty optimistic we’re going to have a fully electable nominee in every one of those [battleground] states.”
McConnell on whether Missouri GOP Senate candidate Eric Greitens is electable, despite the allegations against him:
“I think the voters in the Missouri primary will take all of that into account.”
McConnell says he has contributed to Liz Cheney but won’t be holding events for her, saying he’s focused on the Senate
McConnell: “We’re going to do everything we can do to push this administration into domestic energy production”
McConnell on what he would want to do if he leaves the Senate: “If I had the money, I’d love to own a baseball team.”
Mitch McConnell says he doesn’t hold a dark view about a polarized country, despite sounding the alarm after Jan. 6
Originally tweeted by Axios (@axios) on April 7, 2022.
You can just smell the insincerity in every breath.