Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the US Senate, on Wednesday endorsed Donald Trump for president despite years of acrimony between the pair including Trump calling McConnell a “piece of shit” and using racist invective in attacks against his wife.
“It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States,” McConnell, 82, said in a statement to the Washington Post, the morning after Trump dominated the Super Tuesday primaries and as Trump’s last rival, Nikki Haley, dropped out.
Related: Mitch McConnell to step down as Republican leader in US Senate
“It should come as no surprise,” McConnell continued, “that as nominee, he will have my support.
“During his presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people including tax reform that supercharged our economy and a generational change of our federal judiciary – most importantly, the supreme court.”
In the words of the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2017 tax law McConnell referred to was “skewed to the rich, expensive, and failed to deliver … promised economic benefits”.
McConnell did stock federal courts with rightwingers and steer three justices on to the supreme court, appointments made possible by hardball tactics and paving the way for major policy victories most prominently including the removal of the federal right to abortion.
That ruling, however, has since powered Democrats to a string of notable victories in campaigns centered on rightwing threats to reproductive rights.
McConnell and Trump ultimately fell out over Trump’s refusal to admit defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 election, culminating in the deadly January 6 attack on Congress – an event which prompted McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, to resign as transportation secretary under Trump.
McConnell voted to acquit Trump at his subsequent impeachment trial, reasoning that as Trump had left office the sanction was not needed.
But though McConnell excoriated the former president in a Senate speech, saying Trump was guilty of a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” and was “practically and morally responsible for provoking the events” of January 6, the former president did not leave the national scene as McConnell clearly expected.
The two men’s relationship went into deep freeze. Last year, Chao spoke out against Trump’s racist mockery – he called her “Coco Chow” or McConnell’s “China-loving wife”.
But last week, amid speculation about when McConnell would finally give in and endorse Trump for president, the Kentucky senator said he would step down as leader at the end of this year, after elections in which Republicans have high hopes of regaining Senate control.
McConnell, who became a senator in 1985, is the longest-serving Senate party leader ever, having assumed his Republican role in 2006. Contenders to replace him include John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota. Both have endorsed Trump.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
