Former president Donald Trump flashed his frustration with the Republican leadership on his Truth Social account yesterday, criticizing McConnell's backing of a budget-stripping measure that temporarily keeps the government running.
“Is McConnell approving all of these Trillions of Dollars worth of Democrat-sponsored Bills, without even the slightest bit of negotiation,” McConnell demanded, “because he hates Donald J. Trump, and he knows I am strongly opposed to them, or is he doing it because he believes in the Fake and Highly Destructive Green New Deal, and is willing to take the Country down with him?”
In case that wasn't enough, he then concluded by delivering a highly controversial set of remarks. “In any event,” the man continued, “either reason is unacceptable. He has a DEATHWish. Need to immediately seek help and guidance from his China beloved partner, Coco Chow!”
Trump's comments drew ire from both the right and left about what they describe as an “death threat” against the Senate Minority Leader and for what they described as an “racist” attack on his wife, Elaine Chao – who was Secretary of Trump's Transportation.
The Washington Post noted the ” increasingly strained” relations between political parties.
The tweet marked an additional increase in tensions in the relationship between McConnell and Republican leaders. Trump has repeatedly criticized McConnell's negotiation positions and has demanded GOP senators to take over his leadership. McConnell and Trump often had a conflicting working relationship during the Trump presidency, and a rift developed after the 2020 presidential election, after Trump refused to compromise and attempted to reverse the outcome, as well as attacks at McConnell's U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
McConnell's office could not instantly respond to comment on Saturday.
A Trump spokesperson said the post was “absurd” to interpret the tweet as a threat or call for violence, implying the use of the word “death” wish is “political” rather than literal.
The rekindled public fight can't come at a worse moment for Republicans. The article is a source of frustration for many in this segment of the GOP who are becoming more optimistic about the chances of the party in the November election, since polls started to turn to their advantage yet again. While many members of this segment of the Republican Party are looking for unity, the ongoing battles between Trump's supporters and the more moderate factions of the party distract attention from winning campaigns.
While McConnell is gaining his supporters for resolutions that continue to be passed, the Senate Leadership Fund has been financially backing a variety of candidates across the nation and even those who previously proclaimed the support of Trump and also stated that they'd vote to remove McConnell as their senatorial leader.
In the meantime, Trump's own PAC, Save America, recently announced that it will shift funds to a different group, MAGA Inc., which will then begin funding the same candidates. However, so far there is no money announced. In the final phase of the campaign, that money is urgently required.
McConnell is not likely to react directly to Trump's accusations. However, Trump and his supporters require McConnell and the GOP and, specifically, Trump's top candidates to prevail in November to ensure Trump's future in the GOP.
