Washington – Donald Trump urged Republican senators Tuesday to dump Mitch McConnell as their leader in the Senate following his withering criticism of the former US president after his impeachment trial.
Trump also claimed credit for some Republican gains in the November 3 election and threatened to use his influence against party candidates who don’t align with him.
The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm,” Trump said in a statement.
“Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again.”
The attack comes after McConnell said on Saturday that even though he had voted to acquit Trump at his impeachment trial, the former president was nevertheless “practically and morally responsible” for the January 6 storming of the US Capitol.
Following 50 Democratic senators and seven Republicans voting that Trump was guilty, McConnell let loose, excoriating Trump for the attack that saw five people die and the halls of the US legislature ransacked by his supporters.
He called Trump’s actions leading up to the siege “a disgraceful dereliction of duty.”
“These criminals were carrying his banners. Hanging his flags. And screaming their loyalty to him,” said McConnell.
