Former Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose politics have been at odds with President Donald Trump’s, is increasingly irrelevant to his GOP counterparts, NOTUS reported on Wednesday, writing that he is “living in the past.”
A brutally effective obstructionist during Barack Obama’s presidency, McConnell wields less power as Senate Republicans follow Trump’s lead. He called Trump’s pardons of those convicted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol a “mistake,” voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s nomination, and criticized Trump’s tariffs.
“I just think Mitch is not really a factor one way or another,” one GOP senator told NOTUS. “There’s, I suppose, a certain antiquarian interest there.”
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McConnell is reportedly spending more of his time telling stories and teaching fellow lawmakers history. “I do need to tune in a little more when he’s being more — more of a teacher, more of a historian, imparting wisdom on his colleagues,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.) said. “It’s happening.”
McConnell 82, ceded the role of majority leader last year after suffering a concussion from a fall and having two incidents where his face froze while he was speaking. Aides, however, said that he did not step down due to his health.
But despite some recent criticism McConnell is not entirely opposing Trump, who has made racist comments about his wife. (McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, was secretary of transportation during the first Trump administration). “I expect to support most of what this administration is trying to accomplish,” McConnell told 60 Minutes over the weekend.
“Sen. McConnell is grateful for the support of his constituents over the years and of his colleagues for choosing him as Senate Republican leader for 18 years,” a spokesperson for McConnell told NOTUS. “Every day, Sen. McConnell continues to work in the Senate to make the country and the state that he cares so much about a better place.”
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“He’s a free man,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. “He doesn’t have to think, conference first, himself second,” Kennedy said, adding: “He can approach problems in a different way.”