Mitch McConnell, who has been the Senate leader for the longest time, is stepping down from his position in the upcoming Congress. He is now looking to assert his influence in ways that may lead to disagreements with President-elect Donald J. Trump.
After stepping down from his position as Senate leader, McConnell is now free to choose his own battles and use his power in ways that may clash with President-elect Donald J. Trump. McConnell, who has served the longest in this role, is preparing to assert his influence in a new way in the upcoming Congress.
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 role in January. Photo credit: Kent Nishimura for The New York Times.
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Written by Catie Edmondson
Coverage from the seat of government
During President Donald J. Trump’s previous term in office, Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky who served as majority leader at the time, played a significant role in assisting and advancing his agenda.
After serving as Senate leader for the longest period of time, Mr. McConnell will be stepping down from his position in January. Instead of aligning with Mr. Trump on policy and personnel in his second term, he seems to be taking a different approach and focusing on issues that may lead to disagreements with the president.
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 particularly evident during a late-night voting session on the Senate floor last week.
He has expressed doubt about some of the president-elect’s controversial choices for his administration, remaining quiet on their appointments and stating last week that the decision to withdraw former Representative Matt Gaetz from consideration as attorney general was justified. Additionally, Mr. McConnell has indicated that as he works to solidify his legacy during his remaining time in the Senate, he intends to focus on two key issues that happen to be areas where he differs significantly from Mr. Trump.
Mitch McConnell, whose term lasts until 2027, has not confirmed if he will run for another term. He has stated that he will prioritize advancing his interventionist foreign policy over the next two years, which contrasts with the incoming president’s "America First" ideology. Additionally, McConnell aims to maintain the Senate’s autonomy amid concerns that the upcoming president intends to exert control over the chamber with his majority in January.
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