After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the next Congress. He plans to use his power in ways that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After being freed from his leadership role, McConnell is preparing to choose his own battles. As the longest-serving Senate leader, he will step down in the next Congress and is looking to use his power in ways that may clash with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who has held the position of Senate leader for the longest period of time, will be resigning from his position in January.
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Written by Catie Edmondson.
Reporting from the government building.
During President Donald J. Trump’s time in office, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting him and helping to pass his policies.
Mr. McConnell, who has been the Senate leader for the longest amount of time, will no longer hold that position starting in January. It seems like he is now preparing to take a different approach, concentrating on topics that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and staff 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 and relieved. This sentiment was particularly evident during a late-night vote on the Senate floor last week.
He has shown doubt about some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his administration, choosing not to comment on their selections. He also mentioned that it was the right decision for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Mr. McConnell has indicated that he will focus on two issues during his remaining time in the Senate, which happen to be areas where he disagrees with Mr. Trump. He is looking to solidify his legacy by prioritizing these issues.
With his current term set to end in 2027, Mr. McConnell has not confirmed if he will run for another term. He intends to prioritize advancing his interventionist foreign policy over the next two years, which contrasts with the president-elect’s "America First" strategy. Additionally, he aims to focus on maintaining the Senate’s autonomy as Mr. Trump, who will have significant power in January, has expressed his intention to exert control over the chamber.
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