Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
The relationship between Mr. McConnell and Mr. Trump has been strained for years. The two reportedly have not spoken since December 2020, and the Senate majority leader accused the former president of inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. McConnell’s endorsement of Trump comes just hours after 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley withdrew from the race. on wednesday, according to In the Washington Post. (Related: Mitch McConnell resigns as Senate Republican leader in November)
“It is clear that former President Trump has the necessary support among Republican voters to be the nominee for president of the United States,” McConnell said in a statement to the Post. “It’s no surprise that he has my support as a candidate.”
“During his presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people, including tax reform that boosted the economy and generational changes in the federal judiciary and, most importantly, the Supreme Court,” McConnell told the paper. ” he said. “I look forward to the opportunity to shift from defending the terrible policies the Biden administration has promoted to continuing attack aimed at making a real difference in improving the lives of Americans.”
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) departs the Senate chamber on February 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Mr. McConnell and Mr. Trump did not speak directly before announcing their endorsement, instead communicating through advisers and other sources. Said CNN. Trump advisers said McConnell’s support was welcome news, according to the Post.
McConnell said at the time in late February that he would step down as party leader in November but would serve out the remainder of his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.”
“One of the most underrated talents in life is knowing when it’s time to move on to the next chapter of your life,” McConnell said in February. “So I want to stand before you today and tell you that this will be my last term as Senate Republican leader.”
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