After stepping down from his role as Senate leader, McConnell is preparing to choose his own battles and use his power in a manner that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump. McConnell, who has held the position for the longest time, is now free from the responsibilities of leadership.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, McConnell is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He is now free to choose his own battles and may clash with President-elect Donald J. Trump as he uses his influence in new ways.
Senator Mitch McConnell, who is a Republican representing Kentucky and has been the Senate leader for the longest period of time, will be resigning from his position in January. Photo credit: Kent Nishimura for The New York Times.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Covering news from the government
During President Donald J. Trump’s previous term in the White House, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who was the majority leader at the time, played a significant role in supporting and advancing Trump’s policies.
After serving as Senate leader for a long time, Mr. McConnell will be leaving that position in January. It seems like he is now planning to shift his focus towards issues that may lead to disagreements with Mr. Trump regarding policies and personnel at the beginning of his second term.
Lately, Mr. McConnell, who is 82 years old, has expressed to his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership position has made him feel free. This revelation was made during a late-night voting session in the Senate last week.
He has expressed doubt about some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his administration, choosing not to comment on their appointments and stating last week that it was right for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general. Mr. McConnell has also hinted that as he works to establish his legacy during his remaining time in the Senate, he will focus on two issues that he strongly disagrees with Mr. Trump on.
Mr. McConnell, whose term lasts until 2027 and has not confirmed if he will run again, has stated that he will prioritize advancing his proactive foreign policy agenda over the next two years. This contrasts with the president-elect’s "America First" stance. He also aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy from Mr. Trump’s efforts to exert control over the chamber, especially now that he will have power over all branches of government.
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