After stepping down as the Senate leader, McConnell is now free to choose his battles and use his power in ways that may not align with President-elect Trump.
Having stepped down from his leadership position, McConnell is now free to choose his own battles. As the Senate’s longest-serving leader, he is looking to use his power in ways that may clash 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: Kent Nishimura for The New York Times.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Reporting live from the Capitol
When President Donald J. Trump was last 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 him and advancing his policies.
After serving as Senate leader for the longest time, Mr. McConnell is set to resign from his position in January. This time, he seems to be preparing to take a different approach by concentrating on matters that might 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 sharing with his colleagues that stepping down from his leadership position has made him feel free and relieved. This revelation was made 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. He recently stated that the decision for former Representative Matt Gaetz to withdraw from consideration as attorney general was the right one. Mr. McConnell has also indicated that he will focus on two key issues during his remaining time in the Senate, which happen to be areas where he disagrees with Mr. Trump.
Mr. McConnell, who will hold his position until 2027 and has not confirmed if he will run for re-election, intends to prioritize advancing his proactive foreign policy stance over the next couple of years. This approach contrasts with the incoming president’s "America First" strategy. Additionally, McConnell aims to protect the Senate’s autonomy amidst Trump’s plans to exert control over the chamber with his upcoming administration.
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