McConnell still can’t be trusted.
During an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures,” former President Trump hinted at the possibility that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell might be leaning towards endorsing him for a potential White House bid, despite the historically strained relationship between the two. In response to anchor Maria Bartiromo’s question about collaboration with McConnell, whom she described as “massively anti-Trump,” Trump suggested, “I think Mitch McConnell wants to endorse me. That’s what I hear.”
Trump pointed out that over half of Republicans have already expressed their support for him, with an expectation that more endorsements will follow. However, he remained uncertain about McConnell’s potential endorsement, stating, “I don’t know if he’s going to endorse me; I just heard he wants to endorse me.”
Recent weeks have witnessed an increasing number of Republicans in both the House and Senate rallying behind Trump, particularly after his consecutive primary victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. Some GOP members argue for a unified front in supporting Trump to showcase party cohesion leading up to the November election.
The pressure on McConnell intensified following Trump’s success in New Hampshire, leading Senator John Cornyn, a McConnell ally, to endorse the former president. Senator Deb Fischer, another McConnell confidante, also endorsed Trump after initially remaining uncommitted in the GOP race.
The strained relationship between McConnell and Trump has been apparent since the former president’s 2020 reelection loss, marked by mutual criticisms. Despite Trump’s assertion that McConnell might be inclined to endorse him, the actual stance of the Senate Republican Leader remains uncertain.
Regarding his main GOP challenger, Nikki Haley, Trump claimed she lacks Senate endorsements, underscoring that others within the party are aligning with his leadership. Trump highlighted the transformation of the Republican Party under his influence, characterizing it as a “tremendous success.” National polling indexes indicate a substantial lead for Trump over Haley, both nationally and in Haley’s home state.