Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t hold back when discussing former President Trump’s impact on the GOP.
He believes Trump’s influence has seriously hindered the party’s competitive edge, describing the MAGA movement as “completely wrong.”
In a biography, “The Price of Power” by Michael Tackett, McConnell reportedly characterized Trump as the main catalyst for the GOP’s transformation from the ideals once championed by Ronald Reagan.
“[Reagan] wouldn’t recognize the [ Republican party] today,” McConnell commented, according to the Associated Press‘ initial report of the excerpts.
McConnell claimed that Trump’s actions have “done a lot of damage” to the Republican Party’s image, making it tougher to gain support from American voters.
“Trump is appealing to people who haven’t been as successful as other people and providing an excuse for that, that these more successful people have somehow … cheated and you don’t deserve to think of yourself as less successful because things haven’t been fair,” McConnell remarked.
Reflecting on his long tenure as Senate Republican leader, McConnell complained about Trump’s stronghold over Republican voters.
“Unfortunately, about half of the Republicans in the country believe whatever he says,” McConnell added.
At the end of 2020, McConnell said there was a mutual consensus among Democrats and Republicans eager to see Trump exit office.
His remarks didn’t soften when addressing Trump’s actions following the 2020 election loss, which McConnell deemed “erratic,” questioning his aptitude for office.
He said that the events on Jan. 6, 2021 were a “shocking occurrence and further evidence of Donald Trump’s complete unfitness for office.”
Describing Trump, McConnell pulled no punches, labeling him as “not very smart, irascible, nasty, just about every quality you would not want somebody to have.”
