After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the next Congress. He is now free to choose his own battles and may use his power in ways that could 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 upcoming Congress and intends to use his power in ways that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who has been serving as Senate leader for the longest period, will be resigning from his position in January.
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Authored by Catie Edmondson
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During President Donald J. Trump’s tenure in the White House, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who held the position of majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting and advancing Trump’s policies and goals.
After serving as Senate leader for the longest period of time, Mr. McConnell will be stepping down from that position in January. This time, he seems to be preparing to take a different approach by prioritizing issues that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policy and personnel at the beginning of his second term.
Lately, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has been expressing to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership role has made him feel free. This feeling was particularly evident during a late-night voting session on the Senate floor last week.
He has shown doubt about certain controversial appointments made by the president-elect for his administration, choosing not to comment on their choices and stating 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 focuses on solidifying his legacy in the Senate, he intends to prioritize two issues that he strongly disagrees with Mr. Trump on.
Mr. McConnell, whose term will end in 2027 and has not confirmed whether he will run for another term, has stated that he will prioritize advancing his interventionist foreign policy in the next two years. This approach contradicts the incoming president’s "America First" strategy. Additionally, McConnell aims to protect the Senate’s independence amidst concerns that President-elect Trump may try to exert control over the chamber with his majority in January.
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