Mitch McConnell mentioned on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on international allies had been a foul concept, however mentioned he helps most of what this administration desires to perform.
“It will drive the cost of everything up. In other words, it’ll be paid for by American consumers,” McConnell mentioned of Trump’s tariffs. “I mean, why would you want to get in a fight with your allies over this?”
His feedback got here throughout a a nationally televised interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” and a day after Trump introduced a raft of tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
When CBS’ Lesley Stahl requested McConnell how he may reconcile asserting Trump’s unfitness for workplace following the Jan. 6, 2021 riot with supporting his candidacy in 2024, McConnell put the burden on Republican voters.
“I don’t get decide who gets to be president, the American people do,” he mentioned. “And you have to admit, they did. And he’s back.”
McConnell additionally mentioned he by no means confronted the president after Trump used a racial slur in opposition to his spouse Elaine Chao.
“I chose not to engage with him,” McConnell mentioned. “I don’t feel OK about it.”
The 82-year-old McConnell mentioned he’d be extra outspoken about points than he has previously, together with the isolationist drift throughout the Republican Get together. McConnell has not publicly introduced if he plans to hunt reelection in 2026.
He additionally reiterated his perception that Trump’s sweeping pardons of the Jan. 6, 2021 rioters had been a mistake.
Nonetheless, McConnell didn’t reveal how he would vote on the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to hitch the president’s cupboard, a vote that can be crucial for each candidacies as they face essential votes within the U.S. Senate this week.
Gabbard is Trump’s nominee to guide nationwide intelligence, and Kennedy has been tapped to go the Division of Well being & Human Companies. Every encountered troublesome questioning on their previous positions and statements throughout their affirmation hearings this week.
Final week McConnell solid a vote in opposition to Trump Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, forcing Vice President JD Vance to solid a tie-breaking vote within the Senate.
If all 47 Democrats vote in opposition to Gabbard or Kennedy, every can maintain simply three GOP defections with a purpose to be confirmed.
Gabbard’s nomination hit turbulence after she wouldn’t explicitly name Edward Snowden a traitor at her listening to, unnerving some Republicans who see Snowden as a leaker of nationwide secrets and techniques.
Gabbard didn’t come up within the CBS interview.
McConnell, a polio survivor, pressured his help for vaccines however didn’t go additional in saying how he’d vote on Kennedy’s nomination.
Kennedy has come beneath fireplace on Capitol Hill over his prolonged tenure of spreading misinformation on vaccine effectiveness — one thing he tried to downplay in hearings final week.
The Senate Finance Committee plans to vote on Tuesday morning on whether or not to advance Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for HHS secretary.