Posted on 09/19/2021 12:47:11 PM PDT by RandFan
Former President Trump is vetting possible candidates to remove Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from his leadership position, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Sources familiar with the situation told the Journal that Trump has been speaking with senators and allies to gauge if there is any interest in deposing McConnell, though lawmakers and aides told the publication there has so far been little enthusiasm for the prospect.
Despite being one of Trump's most powerful allies in the federal government when he was in office, a rift quickly formed between McConnell and the former president after he left office.
Though he did not vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, McConnell said back in February that he believed Trump was "morally responsible" for provoking the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
"There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president," said McConnell.
In an interview just a few months after he left office, Trump called for new leadership to replace McConnell.
“I think we’re going to do very well. We need good leadership. Mitch McConnell has not done a great job. I think they should change Mitch McConnell,” Trump said in a Fox News interview in April.
In August, Trump blasted McConnell as being "overrated" for his support of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
"Nobody will ever understand why Mitch McConnell allowed this non-infrastructure bill to be passed. He has given up all of his leverage for the big whopper of a bill that will follow," Trump said in a statement at the time. "I have quietly said for years that Mitch McConnell is the most overrated man in politics — now I don’t have to be quiet anymore."
Despite Trump's attacks on McConnell, support among the GOP for the Kentucky senator has remained steadfast, threatening to split Republicans as Trump seeks to consolidate his control of the party and punish those who publicly criticized him for his role in the Jan. 6 attack.
Speaking to the Journal, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) one of Trump's allies in the Senate, expressed doubt the former president would be able to oust McConnell.
“I just don’t realistically see that happening,” said Kennedy.
The Hill has reached out to McConnell's office for comment.
This would be nice..
I dislike McConnell. A lot. But I also wonder if any the next will be just as bad.
McTurtle and his spy wife will be retiring to Beijing soon.
I hope they get rid of him. Peter Navarro said on Bannon that McConnell was a problem on everything except judges.
Good luck with that.
Flimsey Grahamnesty, Micro Rubio, Hoeven, Tillis, Cornyn, Lankford, Inhofe, Scott, Scott, Romney, McConnell, Cassidy, Thune, Ernst, Boozman, Murkowsky, Wicker, Hyde-Smith, Shelby, Blunt, Sasse, Toomey, Rounds, Portman, Burr, Lee, Capito, Crapo, Cramer, Barrasso, Risch, Sullivan, Moran and Collins are ALL Mitch’s bitches.
Don’t hold your breath of this one. Pretty sure most of the GOP Senate caucus is closer to Mitch McConnell’s political opinions and worldview than Donald Trump’s.
“Despite being one of Trump’s most powerful allies in the federal government when he was in office....”
Whatever.... McTurtle, at every opportunity, undermined Trump.
Go whizz on someone else’s leg.
Surely his last term? He’s 80 something
Yes; that was a transparent lie.
Let’s be honest here: Trump entered office in 2017 with a great agenda but almost no political will in Congress to implement it.
McConnell leaves when he dies. The long-time power people know how to stay in office.
I mean say what you will about Trump but he isn’t that hot at picking people that like him. He picked Milley and Kavanaugh after all and thats just the tip of the ice berg.
I’m reluctant to take anything reported by the Hill as fact.
Not too many besides Ted Cruz and Rand Paul actually do anything. I vote for Cruz who appears to have the most conviction about the border.
Josh Hawley.
McConnell, one of Trump’s most powerful allies...
This is “The Hill”...They are exactly what the democrats love...They say exactly opposite what the facts are...
I truly think the vote machine rigging has been going on for years and Republicans are involved too. That is how Congress has become an old folks home.
No disrespect to older Americans. I am one.
What role in Jan 6th thing?
McConnell, MCCarthy and the entire RNC leadership must go. They seem to sit on their hands and bask in their own laurels.
Isn’t McConnell stepping down next year anyway?
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