McConnell says he would support Trump as the 2024 GOP nominee

Senate minority leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He ‘doesn’t answer us at the White House’ Democratic fury at the Republican Party explodes at House Murkowski undecided about Tanden as an indication in limbo MORE (R-Ky.), Who just a few weeks ago criticized the ex President TrumpDonald Trump Senators did not give a deadline for the removal of the National Guard, near the Capitol. Democratic fury with the Republican Party explodes in the Georgia City Council. on the Senate floor, blaming him for the Capitol riot, on Thursday he said he would support Trump if he won the party’s presidential nomination in 2024.

“There is a lot to happen between now and ’24. I have at least four members that I think are planning to run for president … It must be an open race,” said McConnell during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier.

Asked whether he would support Trump if he won the party nomination in 2024, McConnell added: “The party nominee? Certainly.”

The statement represents a remarkable turnaround for McConnell, who shortly after the impeachment trial had signaled that he wanted his party to step aside from Trump abruptly.

That move drew criticism from other Republicans, and McConnell said nothing about Trump in the weeks that followed.

The comments on Fox News are McConnell’s first to directly address Trump since the former president attacked in a forceful statement after the Republican Party leader blamed him for the attack on the Capitol.

McConnell, in the plenary speech, did not look like a Republican who would again support the former president in another race for the White House.

He said Trump was “morally responsible” for the attack, where a pro-Trump crowd stormed the building in an effort to prevent the counting of votes from the Electoral College.

Trump responded in a statement calling McConnell “a serious, sullen and serious political hack”.

McConnell declined to speak about Trump’s criticisms during his weekly press conference. And after Baier played a clip of his speech, where he issued Trump’s criticism, McConnell changed to argue that Republicans are focused on uniting against President bidenJoe BidenKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He “does not answer us at the White House”. Senators have not given a deadline for the removal of the National Guard, near the Capitol Night defense: new president of the Senate Armed Services talks about candidate for Pentagon policy, Afghanistan, more | Biden reads report on Khashoggi’s murder | Austin highlights vaccine safety in new video MOREcalendar of.

“My point is that what happened in the past is not relevant now, we are moving forward. We have a new government,” he said.

McConnell also declined to say whether he blamed Trump for Georgia’s loss of two Senate seats or whether he thought the former president should speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump should speak there on Sunday.

“I have no advice to give the ex-president about where he should speak or what we should say,” said McConnell.

Republicans were furious with Trump after the attack on the Capitol, which endangered the former vice president Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – Finger pointing at Capitol riot; The Republican Party rejects Biden’s relief plan. Pence meets senior members of The Hill’s Republican Study Committee 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – Supreme Court blow on Trump MORE and legislators on both sides.

But the ex-president maintains a vice-president grip over a voter base that Republicans will need to win back the House and Senate, and he has shown no sign of retreating from the political spotlight.

McConnell, during the interview for Fox News, emphasized the attempt to unite the party before the middle of the semester. Republicans have 50 seats, which puts them on the cusp of the majority, but they will also be playing defense in 20 states in 2022.

“We are going to focus on winning the House and Senate in 22,” said McConnell, adding that it would give the party’s next presidential candidate “whoever it is, the best chance of winning.”

McConnell’s comments during his interview with Fox News drew immediate praise from the senator. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamPassage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is the first step to healing our democracy Progressive support builds to expand lower courts McConnell supports Garland for attorney general MORE (RS.C.). Graham, who traveled to Florida last weekend to discuss 2022 with Trump, criticized McConnell’s speech.

“Very good statement by Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell tonight on @FoxNews indicating that he is optimistic about the future of the Republican Party in 2022 and beyond and is looking forward, not back,” Graham tweeted.