While McConnell claimed that the 2024 presidential election cycle would be an “open race” when pressed by Fox News’ Bret Baier to support Trump if he captured the Republican nomination, McConnell offered, “The party’s candidate? For sure” .
The Kentucky Republican’s comments came just weeks after he made an incisive criticism of Trump on the Senate floor for fomenting the deadly US Capitol uprising. Although McConnell voted for Trump’s acquittal anyway, he called the former president’s actions that preceded the riot “a dishonorable and shameful neglect of duty.”
“Trump is practically and morally responsible for causing the events of the day,” said McConnell in suggesting that the former president could be subject to criminal prosecution.
In response, Trump tore McConnell in a long statement, calling him “a severe, taciturn and serious political hack”.
“He will never do what needs to be done or what is right for our country. Whenever necessary and appropriate, I will support the main rivals who defend Making America Great Again and our America First policy. We want it bright, strong , caring and compassionate leadership, “said Trump.
Still, McConnell’s comments on Thursday underscore the political reality that Trump remains overwhelmingly popular and there is little desire to put him aside or move on to a new generation of leaders now that he is out of office.
Even the Republicans who most often resisted and condemned Trump – including the party’s 2012 presidential candidate, Senator Mitt Romney from Utah – recognize that he remains the Republican Party’s center of gravity, positioned to remain the party’s flagship if he decides to run for president again in 2024.
“I’m sure he will win the nomination,” said Romney on Tuesday in an interview with The New York Times. “I look at the polls and polls show that, among the names that emerged as potential candidates in 2024, if you put President Trump there among the Republicans, he wins with an overwhelming victory.”
At the last sign of the party’s enduring embrace of the former president, Trump is expected to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando on Sunday. He plans to address “the future of the Republican Party and the conservative movement,” a source familiar with Trump’s plans previously told CNN.
Eric Bradner and Veronica Stracqualursi of CNN contributed to this report.
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