Did Mitch McConnell laugh at Trump's 'dour sullen' attack? Internet says 'he fed the monster, we paid the price'
Many on the Internet would note that Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump are no longer the friends they once used to be. The once cordial relationship that they shared throughout Trump's presidency has gone plummeting ever since the Capitol riots of January 6.
After Trump's scathing attack where he called him a "dour sullen and unsmiling political hack", McConnell is supposedly choosing to ignore the man who President Joe Biden had just days ago referred to as "the former guy".
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"Mitch McConnell actually laughed about Donald Trump's statement when he first saw this," said CNN's congressional correspondent Manu Raju, citing sources. "Mitch McConnell has no plans to respond. In fact, I’m told by multiple sources that he plans to ignore Donald Trump altogether as he tries to navigate the post-Trump era."
McConnell might have voted to acquit Trump at the Senate impeachment trial but maintained the former president's involvement. Taking to the Senate floor he said that the former president was "practically and morally responsible" for the riots that had left five people dead including the controversial death of a policeman. "Former President Trump's actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty," McConnell had said.
In an op-ed he wrote in the Wall Street Journal, McConnell explained his decision to vote to acquit Trump at the same time condemning his conduct. He suggested that Trump deserved to be punished but that the process of impeachment was not the appropriate platform to do so since his time in office had already drawn to a conclusion.
McConnell's comments after the impeachment pushed Trump to issue a lengthy statement in which he attacked the Kentucky Republican. "The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Senator Mitch McConnell at its helm."
According to a recent report in Politico, a person involved in the drafting of the statement said the final product is actually sugar-coated and that this attack could have been far worse — the published version was "toned down from the former president's original comments." The source said, "There was also a lot of repetitive stuff and definitely something about him having too many chins but not enough smarts."
Many users took to social media to share their reactions to McConnell's latest advice. "Mitch McConnell’s idea of ignoring trump is cute and all but it came years too late. He fed the monster and we all paid the price," a user tweeted about McConnell's latest plan to ignore the former president. "So Mitch McConnell’s advice is to ignore Trump Silly boy," another user added.
Mitch McConnell’s idea of ignoring trump is cute and all but it came years too late. He fed the monster and we all paid the price.
— K 🇺🇸😷🇺🇸 (Proud Georgia Democratic Voter) (@Just_My_2Cents_) February 19, 2021
So Mitch McConnell’s advice is to ignore Trump
— Breana 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 🤘🎸 (@2020Bre) February 18, 2021
Silly boy
A Trump supporter said, "It'll be much easier for Mitch McConnell to ignore Trump when he's back home in KY sitting in a recliner watching old Columbo episodes."
It'll be much easier for Mitch McConnell to ignore Trump when he's back home in KY sitting in a recliner watching old Columbo episodes.
— Pooka Luck (@MuchLuck) February 18, 2021
This is reportedly only one of the many examples that depict the ever-increasing rift in the Republican party after Trump's unceremonious exit from the White House. However, the GOP is hoping to reclaim its Senate majority in 2022, according to reports. And McConnell plans to be a part of it.
In a previous interview with Politico, he clarified that his goal is to support all Republicans who can contribute to a win for the party in 2022 — "doesn't matter if they are favored by or favor the former president."