Former President Donald Trump went after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday, calling him "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack" just days after the Kentucky Republican voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial.
Mr. McConnell, who led the Senate for years, voted to acquit Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial last week on a charge of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol and condemned Trump's role in the riots in a strongly-worded floor speech afterward. McConnell ripped Trump on the Senate floor as the relationship between the two has degraded in recent months after working closely for almost four years. He then attacked him as "morally responsible" for the US Capitol riot because of his election fraud "lies".
Trump obviously couldn't keep silent and he replied in the lengthiest press release since he left the office. Mr. Trump responded on Tuesday with his lengthiest statement since he left office a month ago.
"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 in the statement. "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 Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political 'leaders' like Senator Mitch McConnell at its helm," the press release reads.
He said," Mr. McConnell's "lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality" had cost the Republicans control of the Senate following last November's elections."
Trump is known for his vicious personal attacks on people he dislikes. He reportedly wanted to make more harsh remarks and jabs at McConnell in his speech. Trump adviser Jason Miller said an "earlier (version of the) statement was likely tougher. There was never a consideration to make a personal attack, though."
Trump asserted Tuesday that McConnell's shortcomings had contributed to the party's loss of the Senate majority and made his baseless claims of election fraud.
"This is a big moment for our country, and we cannot let it pass by using third-rate 'leaders' to dictate our future!" Trump said.
The clash between the current and former GOP leaders continues. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump loyalist, told Fox News on Tuesday that while the two men together "did a hell of a job, they're now at each other's throat. I'm more worried about 2022 than I've ever been. I don't want to eat our own."
"What I would say to Senator McConnell: I know Trump can be a handful, but he is the most dominant figure in the Republican Party," the South Carolina Republican continued. "We don't have a snowball's chance in hell of taking back the majority without Donald Trump. If you don't get that, you're just not looking."
McConnell has repeatedly rebuked Trump's incitement of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, though he voted to acquit the former President of the charge.
In remarks on the Senate floor shortly after Trump was cleared in a 57-43 vote, McConnell suggested that the former President could be subject to criminal prosecution. "His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world's largest megaphone. His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended."
Trump's statement Tuesday adds McConnell to the list of Republicans whom the former President is targeting after they opposed him.
