Friday, 30 April 2021_US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has brushed off Donald Trump’s criticism amid renewed feud between the Kentucky Republican and the former president.
Trump on Thursday lashed out at McConnell again, calling for Senate Republicans to find a new leader ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump, who was speaking on Fox Business Network, suggested doing so would boost their chances of taking back the upper chamber next year.
Asked how Republicans would fare in the 2022 elections, he said, “I think we’re going to do very well. We need good leadership,” but added, “Mitch McConnell has not done a great job, I think they should change Mitch McConnell.”
In response to the former president’s remarks, McConnell said he has led his caucus in the Senate without opposition since 2007.
"Well look, we're looking to the future, not the past," McConnell said during a Fox News interview later on Thursday.
"He's the future. That's where we're headed. We're not preoccupied with the past but looking forward," he added.
Most Senate Republicans remain solidly unified behind McConnell and have repeatedly defended the party leader from Trump’s criticisms.
In January and after Trump stirred divisions by falsely claiming that the 2020 election had been stolen from him, Democrats took control of the Senate by winning two seats in Georgia.
Senate Republicans have blamed Trump's false claims for damaging them there.
Trump also attacked Republican state officials for not overturning the results, inciting an unruly mob of supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that GOP voters listened to Trump's criticism, McConnell sidestepped, reiterating that "what we're doing is focusing on the future."
McConnell, nevertheless, said he would support the GOP's White House nominee in 2024, even if it is Trump.
"Well I'm going to support the nominee of the Republican Party. I do predict however that there's going to be a robust competition for the nomination," he said, pointing out that several members of his own caucus considering a run.
"Once that all sorts itself out, as the Republican leader of the Senate obviously I'll be supporting the Republican nominee for president," he added.
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