Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reportedly plans on never speaking to former President Donald Trump ever again.
The Kentucky senator voted to acquit Trump on the charge of “incitement of insurrection.” Still, he said the former president is “practically and morally responsible” for the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
While Trump has not publicly shared whether he plans on mounting a bid for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 2024, he has not ruled it out either.
During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday night, McConnell was asked if he would support Trump in 2024 if he won the party’s nomination.
“The nominee of the party? Absolutely,” McConnell responded.
Watch the video below:|
BAIER: If [Donald Trump] was the party’s nominee [in 2024], would you support him?
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) February 25, 2021
MCCONNELL: The nominee of the party? Absolutely. pic.twitter.com/ws9aOUltgS
In a speech after voting to acquit Trump, the Kentucky lawmaker said, “There is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president.”
“President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office as an ordinary citizen. He didn’t get away with anything. Yet,” he added.
Days later, Trump blasted McConnell in a statement as he said, “The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm… Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again.”
“He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership,” he added.
McConnell has reportedly not spoken to Trump since Dec. 14 and apparently has no intention to do so either.
A source close to McConnell told CNN, “You probably are not going to hear him utter the name Donald Trump ever again.”
McConnell also reportedly holds Trump responsible for the Republicans losing both of Georgia’s Senate seats.
But when asked on Fox if he blames Trump for the losses, McConnell said, “I don’t have any further observations to make about that. We’re looking forward, dealing a new administration, and trying to hold the Senate in 2022.”