Mitch McConnell, who has been the Senate leader for the longest period of time, is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He is now looking to assert his influence in ways that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He is now free to choose his battles and may clash with President-elect Donald J. Trump as he uses his influence in new ways.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and the Senate leader who has served the longest, will be resigning from his position in January.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Writing from the seat of government
During President Donald J. Trump’s time in office, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who served as the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting and advancing the President’s agenda.
After many years as the Senate leader, Mr. McConnell will be resigning from his position in January. It seems that this time he is planning to take a different approach, prioritizing topics that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and personnel as he begins his second term.
Lately, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has been expressing to his colleagues a sense of freedom and relief as he prepares to step down from his leadership role. This sentiment was especially evident during a late-night Senate session where votes were cast last week.
He has expressed doubt about some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his administration, choosing not to comment on their selections. Last week, he mentioned that it was right for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Additionally, Mr. McConnell has hinted that as he works to leave a lasting impact in the Senate, he will focus on two issues that he does not agree with Mr. Trump on.
Mr. McConnell, whose term ends in 2027 and has not confirmed whether he will run again, intends to prioritize his interventionist foreign policy over the next two years. This approach contrasts with the president-elect’s "America First" stance. He also aims to protect the Senate’s independence as President Trump has indicated his intention to exert control over the chamber with his upcoming governing trifecta.
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