Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader in the United States, will step down from his leadership position around the November presidential election. The uncomfortable relationship with former President Donald Trump, who is a leading Republican presidential candidate, ideological differences with the far-right faction, and health issues are cited as the reasons. Analysts predict that with his resignation, which represents the Republican mainstream, the influence of former President Trump and the MAGA faction within the party will grow significantly.
On the 28th (local time), McConnell announced in a Senate floor speech that he would resign as Majority Leader in November. He said, "One of the least appreciated talents in life is knowing when it is time to move on to the next stage of life," adding, "This will be my last term as the Republican leader in the Senate." He continued, "I have loved the Senate. It has been my life," and added, "Now it is time for the next generation of leadership."
First elected in Kentucky in 1984 and entering the Senate the following year, he became the Republican Majority Leader in 2006. Having been elected Majority Leader nine consecutive times, he holds the record as the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader in history. Local media outlets including the Associated Press (AP) and The Washington Post (WP) unanimously reported that McConnell's resignation "signifies the end of an era in American politics."
The background for his resignation includes, first, the uncomfortable relationship with former President Trump, who is widely expected to be the next Republican presidential candidate. Representing the Republican mainstream, McConnell has not yet declared support for Trump, despite most of the Republican Senate leadership having shifted to the Trump camp. He did not endorse Trump's claim in December 2020 that President Joe Biden's victory was fraudulent and has criticized Trump for his responsibility in the January 6th Capitol riot.
It is also analyzed that the ideological shift within the Republican Party toward populism and isolationism ahead of the so-called "Trump second term" has influenced his decision. McConnell is a representative figure who follows traditional conservatism symbolized by former President Ronald Reagan. His recent cooperation with Democrats in the Senate to pass additional aid for Ukraine, despite opposition from Trump and the hard-right faction, is based on this traditional conservative ideology that values international alliances.
However, these ideological differences have increasingly led the far-right faction, represented by the MAGA camp, to openly pressure his resignation. The AP reported, "Former President Trump downplays the value of alliances such as NATO, which traditional conservatives like McConnell consider vital to U.S. national interests, and strengthens the Republican Party's far-right tendencies by taking a hard stance on immigration," adding, "This differs from the values McConnell upholds for the Republican Party." The New York Times (NYT) also stated, "This decision is not surprising," noting that "his leadership, especially regarding support for Ukraine, faces growing resistance within the party."
On the day of the announcement, McConnell said, "I understand the political situation within our party," but added, "I have made many mistakes, but that does not mean I do not understand politics." He emphasized, "I believe more strongly than ever that America's global leadership is essential to preserve the 'shining city on a hill' Ronald Reagan spoke of," and stated, "As long as I breathe, I will defend American exceptionalism." These remarks are interpreted as an awareness that the influence of the far-right faction within the party may grow and that Trump's isolationist policies could be further strengthened.
McConnell, who is 82 years old this year, plans to complete his Senate term ending in January 2027. Although he did not explain the reasons for his resignation during the speech, he revealed that the recent death of his youngest sister-in-law caused a difficult time for him and his family and led to personal reflection. His staff dismissed health issues, which are cited as one of the reasons for his resignation, as unrelated. Since suffering a concussion and hospitalization after a fall in March last year, McConnell has faced health rumors, including freezing blankly for several seconds during two press conferences.
Current candidates for the next Republican Majority Leader include Senators John Thune, John Cornyn, and John Barrasso. All of them officially support former President Trump. When asked by reporters about his intention to run for Majority Leader, Senator Barrasso replied, "There is a much more important election (the presidential election)," adding, "That is what I am focusing on." Local media also noted the possibility that the MAGA camp might put forward a far-right figure to represent themselves. Some analysts suggest that McConnell's resignation plan at age 82 could negatively impact President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election at age 81.
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