Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is focusing his focus on regaining the majority in 2022, saying he would support Republican primary candidates based on their eligibility, even if it meant opposing rivals backed by Trump, he revealed in a new interview.
“My goal is, in every possible way, to have nominees representing the Republican party that can win in November. Some of them may be people who like the former president. Some of them may not be. The only thing that matters to me is eligibility, “the top Republican official told Politico in a telephone interview over the weekend.
The Kentucky senator continued to warn, however, that this did not mean he planned to naturally oppose any Trump-approved candidate.
“I do not predict that the president will support people who could not win. But I think eligibility (not who supports whom) is the tipping point, ”he argued.
The Senate is split between 50 and 50 between Republicans and Democrats, although Vice President Kamala Harris has a tiebreaker vote, giving the left a one-vote advantage.
Despite being in the minority now, McConnell expressed confidence in the upcoming race.
“The difference between 2009 and 2009 is between 40 and 50. I was there in 2009. I know what it looks like after I attacked you. They didn’t piss us off. We lost the White House. “
Asked if he would put himself in opposition if former President Trump sought the White House again in 2024, McConnell declined to answer and simply said, “I’m focused on the 22nd.”
The Kentucky Republican voted to acquit the former president in last week’s Senate impeachment trial.
Still, he argued that Trump had the moral responsibility for the siege of the Capitol last month that led to his indictment in the House.
“Constitutionally, President Trump is not eligible for his conviction” as a result of leaving office, but “there is no doubt that President Trump is virtually and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.” tell the Senate. pis.