Sen. McConnell Responds to Trump’s 2024 Decision

Senate minority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made a rare reaction to the prospect of former U.S. President Donald Trump running for commander-in-chief in 2024. 

“I think we’re going to have a crowded field for president,” McConnell said, answering a question about his thoughts on Trump again running for president.

The senator echoed a February 2021 comment—made less than two weeks after he claimed Trump’s words before the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the capital were “disgraceful dereliction of duty”—when he told Fox News that he believed “at least four members” were planning on running for president, alongside Republican governors. 

“There’s no incumbent. Should be a wide-open race,” the lawmaker said at the time.

McConnell also said he’d “absolutely” support Trump if the 45th president were to become the Republican presidential nominee in 2024.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and then-President Donald Trump listen during a signing ceremony for H.R. 748, the CARES Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 27, 2020. (Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images) Trump’s Criticism of McConnell

Meanwhile, Trump has been highly critical of McConnell’s public statements against him after Jan. 6, frequently referring to the Kentucky Senator as an “old crow.”

“The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm,” Trump said in a statement in February 2021.

“McConnell’s dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together with his lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality, has rapidly driven him from Majority Leader to Minority Leader, and it will only get worse,” Trump continued.

McConnell’s comments came after Trump stepped up his presence in the political arena and gave plenty of hints about running in two years.

The 45th