After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down and preparing to use his power 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 and preparing to use his power to choose his own battles. This may lead to conflicts with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who has been the Senate leader for the longest period of time, will be resigning from his position in January. Photo credit goes to Kent Nishimura for The New York Times.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Sharing news from the government building
During President Donald J. Trump’s previous term in the White House, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who served as the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting and advancing his agenda.
Mr. McConnell, who has served as Senate leader for the longest time, will be leaving that position in January. This time, he seems to be preparing to focus on different issues that may cause disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and personnel at the beginning of his second term.
Recently, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has expressed to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership position has made him feel free and released. This feeling was evident during a late-night voting session 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 and stating that it was fitting for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Mr. McConnell has indicated that he will focus on two issues that he strongly disagrees with Mr. Trump on, as he works to solidify his legacy in the Senate before his time is up.
Mitch McConnell, whose term as a senator ends in 2027, has not confirmed if he will run for re-election. He intends to prioritize his foreign policy agenda over the next two years, which contrasts with the incoming president’s "America First" strategy. McConnell also aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy, especially as President Trump plans to assert his influence over the chamber when he takes office.
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