After stepping down from his position as Senate leader, McConnell is now free to choose his own battles and plans to assert his influence in ways that may conflict with President-elect Trump. McConnell, who has served the Senate for the longest time, is looking to use his power in new ways.
Mitch McConnell, who has been the Senate leader for the longest time, is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He is now looking to assert his influence in a new way, potentially leading to conflicts with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a member of the Republican party representing Kentucky, will be resigning from his position as Senate leader in January.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Coverage from the seat of government
When President Donald J. Trump was previously in office, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who held the position of majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting him and helping to advance his priorities.
After serving as Senate leader for the longest period of time, Mr. McConnell will be stepping down from his position in January. It seems that this time, he is preparing to prioritize different issues that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and personnel at the beginning of his second term.
Lately, Senator McConnell, who is 82 years old, has been expressing to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership position has made him feel free and relieved. This was evident during a late-night voting session in the Senate 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 stated that it was the right decision for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Mr. McConnell has indicated that as he seeks to solidify his legacy in the Senate, he will focus on two issues that he strongly disagrees with Mr. Trump on.
Mitch McConnell, whose term in office will end in 2027, has not yet confirmed if he will run for reelection. He has stated that he will prioritize promoting his interventionist foreign policy agenda over the next two years, which contrasts with the incoming president’s "America First" philosophy. McConnell also aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy from the influence of President-elect Trump, who has made it clear that he intends to exert control over the chamber.
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