Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell hailed the impending approval of $60 billion in U.S. assistance to Ukraine, though he expressed frustration over the time it took to rally Republican support for the measure.
In a press briefing, McConnell pointed fingers at two figures for the delay: Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, and ex-President Donald Trump.
“Tucker Carlson started this Ukraine skepticism, leading many Republicans to question our aid,” said McConnell. “It took a while to convince them otherwise.”
Reflecting on Trump’s stance, McConnell remarked, “The former president had mixed feelings about Ukraine aid. Some wanted border security attached, while others hesitated altogether.”
ALSO READ: “That’s in the Past,” Lara Trump Defends Trump’s Attempt To Overturn the 2020 Election Results
Navigating these differing opinions within the party, especially with a nominee seemingly indifferent, proved a lengthy process for McConnell.
The Kentucky senator, an advocate for Ukraine aid, faced resistance from conservative circles. Nonetheless, he hailed the expected passage as “a victory for America and freedom-loving nations globally.”
The Senate’s 80-19 vote to advance the bill signals strong bipartisan support, a departure from earlier divisions within the GOP. McConnell sees this as a return to Reagan-era principles of defending democracy worldwide, a stance he hopes will shape the party’s future.
While stepping back from leadership, McConnell remains committed to securing a Republican Senate majority. He believes the party’s current candidates are less inclined toward isolationism.
POLL—Should Public Schools Include Critical Race Theory and Sex Education in Their Curriculum?
“We’re moving away from isolationism, tackling issues like China, Russia, and Iran,” McConnell affirmed, signaling a shift in party priorities.
McConnell said he remains committed to working to help regain a Republican Senate majority, despite his plans to step back from leadership at the end of the year. He said he believes the crop of candidates the Republicans have recruited are more inclined to back away from the party’s recent isolationist tendencies.
“I think we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement,” McConnell said. “I’ve noticed how uncomfortable proponents of that are when you call them isolationist. So I think we’ve made some progress and I think it’s gonna have to continue because we got big, big problems: China, Russia, Iran. Going into World War II we just had Germany and Japan.”
The Kentucky Republican also defended House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., whose transformation from Ukraine aid skeptic to staunch supporter helped assure passage in the House.
“More important than what I think about the speaker is what the former president thinks about the speaker,” McConnell said. “And he obviously made it clear that he was a fan of Speaker Johnson and suggested some of his critics to shut up. So I’ll just quote the former president.”
ALSO READ: Trump Campaign To Merge With RNC Ahead of Presidential Elections
McConnell said he feels positive about the GOP’s Senate nominees so far in the battle for the majority this fall, when asked if he has the same “candidate quality” concerns of 2022.
“I feel pretty good about our nominees. I’m pretty confident we’re going to win West Virginia. That’s 50. You all can do the math. One more makes 51,” McConnell said. “And I hope to hand this job over to the majority leader.”
You Might Also Like:
NASA Hears From Voyager 1 After Months of Quiet
Guest Pastor Kicked Off Stage at Christian Conference for Calling Transgenders Demons
Amusement Parks in the US That Have Free Entry
How Often Should You Walk Your Dogs?
