In an upcoming biography, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell offers a harsh critique of the current state of the Republican Party and former President Donald Trump’s influence.
In the book The Price of Power, obtained by CNN ahead of its release, McConnell states that the “MAGA movement is completely wrong” and that Ronald Reagan “wouldn’t recognize” the Republican Party today.
He places much of the blame for this shift on Trump, saying, “I think Trump was the biggest factor in changing the Republican Party from what Ronald Reagan viewed, and he wouldn’t recognize it today.”
McConnell’s discontent with Trump’s impact on the party is evident. He claims that Trump has “done a lot of damage to our party’s image and our ability to compete.”
He further criticized Trump’s base, saying, “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 been cheated.”
McConnell added, “Unfortunately, about half the Republicans in the country believe whatever he says.”
McConnell saved some of his sharpest comments for Trump’s actions following the 2020 election, calling the former president’s behavior “erratic.” He shared.
“I’m not at all conflicted about whether what the president did is an impeachable offense. I think it is.” He explained his reasoning, stating.
“Urging an insurrection and people attacking the Capitol as a direct result … is about as close to an impeachable offense as you can imagine.” Despite these comments, McConnell ultimately voted to acquit Trump during his second impeachment trial.
While McConnell has long had a tumultuous relationship with Trump, his criticism in the biography reaches a personal level.
He described Trump as a “sleazeball,” a “narcissist,” and said the former president is “stupid as well as being ill-tempered.”
McConnell did not hold back, calling Trump “not very smart, irascible, nasty, just about every quality you would not want somebody to have.”
However, McConnell noted that Trump’s attacks on him do little harm, stating, “Every time he takes a shot at me, I think it’s good for my reputation.”
He did, however, express dismay over Trump’s attacks on his wife, Elaine Chao, Trump’s former Transportation Secretary.
In 2022, Trump referred to Chao as McConnell’s “China-loving wife, Coco Chow” in a post on Truth Social.
McConnell revealed that Chao was “deeply disturbed” by the comments, and he defended her, saying, “She’s not used to taking a punch.”
The biography also recounts the emotional toll of the January 6 Capitol attack on McConnell.
After rioters stormed the Senate chamber, McConnell reportedly told his staff, “You are my staff, and you are my responsibility. You are my family, and I hate the fact that you had to go through this.”
He described the rioters as “narcissistic, just like Donald Trump, sitting in the vice president’s chair taking pictures of themselves.”
Despite his harsh words, McConnell acknowledged in a statement to CNN, “Whatever I may have said about President Trump pales in comparison to what JD Vance, Lindsey Graham, and others have said about him, but we are all on the same team now.”
McConnell’s relationship with Trump has been rocky, but the Republican leader has since endorsed Trump and even met with him during a Senate GOP gathering earlier this year.
In addition to his critique of Trump, McConnell also addressed the controversial actions of Senator Rick Scott, who led the Senate Republicans’ campaign during the 2022 midterms.
McConnell criticized Scott for proposing a policy plan that was widely panned and for challenging him for Senate GOP leadership.
While McConnell will be stepping down from his leadership post, he remains a pivotal figure in shaping the party’s future.
The biography reveals McConnell’s complex legacy, from his role in shaping the Supreme Court to his criticisms of Trump, shedding light on the enduring tension within the Republican Party.
