After stepping down from his position as Senate leader, McConnell is now free to choose his own battles and plans to use his power in a way that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the next Congress. He intends to use his influence to choose his own battles, even if it means conflicting with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and the Senate leader for the longest time, is resigning from his position in January.
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Written by Catie Edmondson.
Covering news from the government
During President Donald J. Trump’s term in office, 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 and initiatives.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, Mr. McConnell is resigning from his position in January. It seems like he is now planning to prioritize issues that may cause disagreements with Mr. Trump on policies and personnel as he starts his second term.
Recently, 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 especially evident during a late-night voting session on the Senate floor last week.
He has expressed doubt about certain controversial choices made by the president-elect for his administration, choosing not to comment on their selections. Last week, he mentioned that it was fitting for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw his consideration for attorney general. Additionally, Mr. McConnell has indicated that as he works to secure his legacy during his remaining time in the Senate, he will focus on two issues that happen to be areas where he disagrees with Mr. Trump.
Mr. McConnell is currently serving a term until 2027 and has not confirmed whether he will run for another term. He has expressed his intention to prioritize his interventionist foreign policy in the next two years, which contrasts with the president-elect’s "America First" strategy. Additionally, McConnell aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy as President Trump, who will have control over the executive and legislative branches, has indicated his desire to exert influence over the Senate.
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