President Donald Trump intensified his rhetorical assault on Sen. Mitch McConnell Thursday, days after the Senate’s most powerful Republican said Trump had put “excessive expectations” on Congress to pass his legislative agenda. In a pair of Thursday-morning tweets, the president blasted McConnell for his inability…
President Donald Trump intensified his rhetorical assault on Sen. Mitch McConnell Thursday, days after the Senate’s most powerful Republican said Trump had put “ excessive expectations ” on Congress to pass his legislative agenda.
In a pair of Thursday-morning tweets, the president blasted McConnell for his inability to get Obamacare repeal passed and urged him to “get back to work.”
Despite the president’s clear desire to punish McConnell’s comments and reports of growing tension between him and his party, Trump has also made several moves of support for the majority leader in the past week.
On Tuesday, the president tweeted out a surprise endorsement of McConnell’s hand-picked candidate in the upcoming Alabama Senate special primary, Luther Strange.
And on Thursday afternoon, just hours after his tweets antagonizing McConnell, Trump designated Neil Chatterjee, a former McConnell staffer, to temporarily lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Industry adviser and lawyer David McIntyre will take over as chairman following his confirmation, which is slated to go before the Senate on September 7.
Nevertheless, Trump made it clear that his support of McConnell is tied to his ability to deliver on the White House’s agenda. Asked by a reporter whether the majority leader should consider stepping down Thursday afternoon, Trump said we’d have to wait and see.
« I’ll tell you what, » Trump said. « If he doesn’t get repeal and replace done, if he doesn’t get taxes done, meaning cuts and reform, and if he doesn’t get a very easy one to get done—infrastructure—if he doesn’t get that done, then you should ask me that question. »
