After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down and preparing to use his power in ways that might create conflicts with President-elect Donald J. Trump. He will no longer be constrained by his leadership role and will be free to choose his own battles.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He intends to use his influence in ways that may clash with President-elect Donald J. Trump. This move allows McConnell to choose his own battles and be more independent in his decisions.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and the Senate leader with the most seniority, will be resigning from his position in January. Photo by Kent Nishimura for The New York Times.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Covering news from the Capitol
During President Donald J. Trump’s time in the White House, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican who served as the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting him and advancing his policies.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, Mr. McConnell will be stepping down from the position in January. Instead of aligning himself with Mr. Trump, he seems to be gearing up to focus on topics that may lead to disagreements with the president regarding policies and personnel as he begins his second term.
Lately, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has been expressing to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership position has made him feel free. This was evident even during a late-night voting session on the Senate floor last week.
He has shown doubt towards some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his team, choosing not to comment on their appointments. He recently stated that it was the right decision for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Mr. McConnell has also indicated that he will focus on two key issues during his remaining time in the Senate, even though he and Mr. Trump strongly disagree on these topics.
Mr. McConnell’s term will end in 2027, and it is unclear if he will seek re-election. He has expressed his intention to prioritize his interventionist foreign policy over the next two years, which contrasts with the incoming president’s "America First" strategy. Additionally, McConnell aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy, especially as President Trump has indicated his desire to exert influence over the chamber with his upcoming governing power.
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