After stepping down from his position as Senate leader, McConnell is preparing to choose his battles independently. He intends to use his influence in a manner that may conflict 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 planning to use his power in ways that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald Trump. This move gives McConnell more freedom to choose his battles.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a member of the Republican party from Kentucky, has announced that he will be resigning from his position as Senate leader in January.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Providing updates from the government
During President Donald J. Trump’s time in the White House, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who was the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting and advancing his policies.
After many years as the Senate leader, Mr. McConnell will be resigning from his position in January. It seems like he is now planning to take a different direction by concentrating on topics that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and personnel at the beginning of his second term.
Lately, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has been expressing to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership role has made him feel free. This feeling was particularly evident during a late-night voting session on the Senate floor last week.
He has expressed doubt about some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his administration, choosing not to comment on their selection. Last week, he stated that the decision for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general was the right move. Mr. McConnell has indicated that as he focuses on solidifying his legacy in the Senate, he will prioritize two issues that he disagrees with Mr. Trump on.
Senator McConnell, whose term ends in 2027 and has not confirmed if he will run again, has stated his intention to prioritize his interventionist foreign policy over the next two years. This approach contradicts the incoming president’s "America First" strategy. He also aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy, especially as President Trump has indicated his plans to exert control over the chamber with his majority in January.
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