McConnell says he would back Trump as 2024 GOP candidate

Minority Leader in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellKlain on Manchin’s objection to Neera Tanden: He’s ‘not answering us in the White House’ Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House Murkowski undecided on Tanden as nomination in limbo MORE (R-Ky.), Who a few weeks ago excoriated the former President TrumpDonald Trump Senators gave no timeline for National Guard pullout, Capitol fence Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House Georgia Secretary of State refuses to back ‘reactionary’ voting bills from the GOP in the Senate, blaming him for the riot on Capitol Hill, said Thursday he would back Trump if he won the party’s presidential nomination in 2024.

“There’s a lot going on between now and 24. I have at least four members who I think are planning to run for President. … This should be a wide open race,” McConnell said during an interview with Bret from Fox News Baier.

When asked if he would support Trump if he wins the party’s nomination in 2024, McConnell added, “The party’s candidate? Absolutely.”

The statement represents a remarkable about-face for McConnell, who after the impeachment trial signaled that he wanted his party to abruptly turn away from Trump.

The move drew criticism from other Republicans, and McConnell was silent about Trump over the following weeks.

The Fox News remarks are the first by McConnell to speak directly to Trump since the former president blasted in a scathing statement after the GOP leader accused him of the attack on Capitol Hill.

McConnell, in the speaking speech, did not look like a Republican who would once again support the former president in another White House race.

He said Trump was “morally responsible” for the attack, where a pro-Trump mob entered the building in an attempt to stop the electoral college’s vote count.

Trump hit back in a statement calling McConnell an “austere, sullen, and smileless political hack.”

McConnell declined to speak to criticism of Trump at his weekly press conference. After Baier played an excerpt from his ground speech, where he criticized Trump, McConnell instead pivoted to assert that Republicans are focused on uniting against President BidenJoe BidenKlain on Manchin’s Objection to Neera Tanden: He’s “ not responding to us at the White House ” Senators have no timeline on National Guard pullout, Capitol Defense fence overnight: new chairman of the armed forces of the Senate talks about a candidate for Pentagon politics, Afghanistan, more | Biden reads report on Khashoggi murder | Austin highlights vaccine safety in new video LEARN MOREthe agenda of.

“My point is that what happened in the past is not something relevant now, we are moving forward. We have a new administration,” he said.

McConnell also declined to say whether he blamed Trump for the party’s loss of two Senate seats in Georgia or whether he thought the former president should speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump will speak there on Sunday.

“I have no advice for the former president on where he should speak or what we should say,” McConnell said.

Republicans angry with Trump after attack on Capitol Hill, which directly endangered former vice president Mike penceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – Pointing fingers at the Capitol Riot; GOP balks at Biden Pence’s back up plan huddles with senior members of the Republican Study Committee The Hill 12:30 report – Brought to you by Facebook – Supreme Court coup to Trump MORE and legislators on both sides.

But the former president maintains a vice-like grip on a voter base that Republicans will need to win back the House and Senate, and he has shown no signs of backing away from the political spotlight.

McConnell, during the Fox News interview, insisted on trying to unite the party before midterm. Republicans hold 50 seats, putting them on the cusp of majority, but they are also playing defense in 20 states in 2022.

“Let’s focus on winning the 22nd House and Senate,” McConnell said, adding that this would give the party’s next presidential candidate “whoever he is, the best chance of triumph.”

McConnell’s comments in his Fox News interview immediately drew praise from the senator. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham Passage of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is first step to heal our democracy Progressive support for expansion of lower courts McConnell supports Garland for Attorney General MORE (RS.C.). Graham, who traveled to Florida last weekend to discuss 2022 with Trump, criticized McConnell’s speech.

“Very good statement from Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell this evening on @ FoxNews, indicating that he is optimistic about the future of the Republican Party in 2022 and beyond and that he is looking forward and not back,” Graham tweeted.