Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell defended himself in an interview with Politico after several of his Republican colleagues have reportedly questioned his leadership in recent days.
McConnell has been catching heat for the bipartisan border deal that a small group of Senate Republicans and Democrats negotiated behind closed doors and unveiled Sunday, drawing ire from other members of the caucus who slammed the bill as far too weak to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border. Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has openly called for McConnell to step aside after the details of the border deal became public, and Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee has also suggested that new leadership may be needed in the wake of the border negotiations, according to Politico. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Republicans Sound Off On Leaked Border Deal Proposals, Say They Will Absolutely Not Vote For Them)
Biden is asked a question about whether Mitch McConnell is fit to serve and run for re-election.
Biden turns around and asks DHS Sec. Mayorkas if he’s running for office. pic.twitter.com/MJuPWCAZKi
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 30, 2023
“I’ve had a small group of persistent critics the whole time I’ve been in this job. They had their shot,” McConnell told Politico, referencing Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s 2022 challenge to his leadership. “The reason we’ve been talking about the border is because they wanted to, the persistent critics. You can’t pass a bill without dealing with a Democratic president and a Democratic Senate.”
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 04: (L-R) Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) speak on the bipartisan infrastructure bill during a press conference at U.S. Capitol on August 04, 2021 in Washington, DC. The group of Senators criticized the bill for being too expensive and claim it will increase the debt, inflation and taxes. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
McConnell apparently did not whip votes to support or oppose the bill, instead focusing on the particular politics of the legislation, according to Politico. McConnell said on Tuesday that the legislation has “no real chance” of becoming law.
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 19: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. McConnell predicted that National Defense Authorization Act will “pass on a pretty strong bipartisan basis” at the end of the amendment process. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: (L-R) U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) listen during during remarks at a Capitol Menorah lighting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building on December 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Hanukkah reception was the first of its kind at the U.S. Capitol Building that featured bipartisan congressional leadership. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks to the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol on February 05, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Senate is working on bringing a bipartisan border security bill to the floor later this week which will provide border security enhancements as well as funding for Ukraine’s war with Russia, funds for Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Leader McConnell completely blew this,” Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told Politico regarding the border deal.
McConnell has frozen up in public on two occasions in the last twelve months, raising questions about his health given his advanced age. Those in the caucus may be sniping at McConnell because they sense a political opportunity, or because they are looking to settle old scores with McConnell, one anonymous Republican Senator told Politico, which granted the lawmaker anonymity in order to discuss the dynamics freely.
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