After being in a leadership position for a long time, McConnell is stepping down and looking to choose his own battles. He may use his power in ways that go against 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 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, 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 live from the government building
During President Donald J. Trump’s previous term in office, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who served as the majority leader at the time, was instrumental in supporting and advancing Trump’s policies.
After serving as Senate leader for the longest period of time, Mr. McConnell will be stepping down from the 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 policies and personnel as he begins 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 was evident during a late-night voting session in the Senate last week.
Expressing doubt about certain controversial choices made by the president-elect for his team, he has chosen to remain silent on these appointments. He recently commented that it was right for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw his consideration for attorney general. In addition, he has hinted that he will focus on two key issues during his remaining time in the Senate, which happen to be areas where he differs greatly from Mr. Trump.
Mr. McConnell, whose term ends in 2027 and has not confirmed if he will run again, intends to prioritize his interventionist foreign policy in the next two years. This stance differs from the president-elect’s "America First" approach. He also aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy in the face of Mr. Trump’s intention to exert control over the chamber with his majority in January.
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