In a frank assessment of the Republican Party’s current state, outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky has openly criticized former President Donald Trump for damaging the party’s competitiveness and labeled the MAGA movement as “completely wrong.”
These insights come from excerpts of a new biography by Michael Tackett of The Associated Press, as reported by CNN.
McConnell’s remarks underscore his belief that Trump’s influence has shifted the GOP away from its traditional values. He described the events of January 6, 2021, as a “shocking occurrence” that highlights Trump’s unsuitability for office. “I think Trump was the biggest factor in changing the Republican Party from what Ronald Reagan envisioned, and he wouldn’t recognize it today,” McConnell stated.
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As he nears the end of his 18-year leadership as Senate Republican leader, McConnell voiced concerns about Trump’s appeal, suggesting that the former president offers a misleading narrative to those who feel disadvantaged.
“Trump is appealing to people who haven’t been as successful as others, providing an excuse that these more successful people have somehow cheated, and you don’t deserve to think of yourself as less successful because things haven’t been fair,” he explained.
McConnell lamented that about half of Republican voters now align with Trump’s views, diverging from core party principles like free trade and immigration reform. “Unfortunately, about half of the Republicans in the country believe whatever he says,” he noted.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2020 election, McConnell described Trump as “erratic” and criticized his intelligence and temperament. “He’s not very smart, irascible, nasty—just about every quality you would not want somebody to have,” he remarked.
The biography, titled The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party, also reveals McConnell’s emotional response to the January 6 Capitol attack. He reportedly wept while addressing his staff, expressing sorrow over the traumatic events they endured. “You are my family, and I hate the fact that you had to go through this,” he told them.
As McConnell prepares to step down, his reflections present a stark critique of a party struggling with its identity amid Trump’s lasting influence.