In a revealing new biography set to be released later this month, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell privately referred to former President Donald Trump as “stupid,” “ill-tempered,” and “a despicable human being” in the aftermath of the 2020 election. McConnell’s harsh criticism of Trump, who he also labeled as a “narcissist,” reflects the deep tensions within the Republican Party during and after Trump’s presidency.
According to “The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party,” authored by Michael Tackett, the deputy Washington bureau chief for The Associated Press, McConnell’s remarks were part of a personal oral history shared in confidence. The biography, expected to stir significant conversation within political circles, sheds light on the extent of McConnell’s disdain for Trump following his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
McConnell’s Criticism of Trump’s Post-Election Behavior
McConnell, who publicly distanced himself from Trump after the election, was critical of the former president’s attempts to subvert the results of the 2020 election, particularly in the run-up to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. In the book, McConnell is quoted as admitting that “it’s not just the Democrats who are counting the days” until Trump left office, indicating widespread relief across party lines.
Despite his private remarks, McConnell refrained from directly confronting Trump publicly at the time. However, following the Electoral College’s formal recognition of Joe Biden as the winner, McConnell split with Trump. He subsequently denounced Trump’s role in the Capitol riots, stating on the Senate floor after Trump’s second impeachment trial that the former president was “practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day.”
McConnell called Trump’s actions leading up to the January 6th riot a “disgraceful dereliction of duty,” marking one of his strongest public condemnations of the former president.
Fallout Within the GOP
McConnell’s private disdain for Trump mirrors the sentiments of other prominent Republicans, especially those within the Senate. GOP senators have since expressed frustration over Trump’s behavior, blaming him for costing them control of the Senate by undermining confidence in the election process, particularly in Georgia. Trump’s criticism of the integrity of the Georgia election process led to lower Republican voter turnout in crucial runoff races, resulting in Democratic victories.
McConnell and Trump did not speak for several years following their falling out. However, they had a brief interaction in June 2024, when Trump visited Capitol Hill to meet with Republican senators at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The two shook hands at the event, a symbolic moment given their strained relationship.
Trump’s Attacks on McConnell
Trump has been vocal about his dislike for McConnell since leaving office, frequently attacking him in public statements. In a February 2021 statement, Trump lashed out at McConnell, calling him a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling hack” and blamed him for Republican losses. He further warned that Republicans “will not win again” if they continue to align with leaders like McConnell.
Despite the personal animosity, McConnell extended an olive branch earlier this year by endorsing Trump’s 2024 presidential bid. McConnell stated that he would support the Republican nominee, even if it was Trump, acknowledging that Trump had garnered the backing of the party’s base.
“It should come as no surprise that as the nominee, he will have my support,” McConnell said.
