Trump unloads on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), promises MAGA / America First primary challengers

Story by The Hill

Written by Jonathan Easley

Former President Trump on Tuesday unloaded on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and vowed to back challengers to lawmakers who have crossed him, foretelling a brutal primary season for divided Republicans.

Trump’s statement, which was released through his Save America super PAC, blames McConnell for the GOP’s 2020 Senate losses.

“Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again,” Trump said. “He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership.”

The statement comes days after seven Republican senators joined all 50 Democratic senators in voting to convict Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill.

McConnell voted to acquit Trump, but in remarks after the vote, he said Trump was “practically and morally” responsible for the deadly siege. McConnell also left open the possibility that Trump could face civil or criminal charges even though he was acquitted by the Senate.

The remarks from the Senate minority leader sent a clear signal that he believes the party must separate itself from Trump to remain competitive in future elections.