Mitch McConnell is still the senior Senator from Kentucky, but the 82-year-old—who has been serving since 1985, when Wham's "Careless Whisper" was the top song—stepped down from his role as Senate GOP Leader in November. He’s also experienced several health scares, including two disturbing “freezing” episodes in July and August of 2023, as well as a concussion from a fall.
Throughout Donald Trump’s first term and during Biden’s presidency, he’s been a dubious ally. While he garnered some acclaim for his relentless pushing of conservative justices for confirmation, he’s been an unreliable backer of “45” – now “47.”
In fact, he said after the events of January 6, 2021: “We’ve all known that Trump is crazy. I’m done with him. I will never speak to him again.” He didn’t vote to impeach him, but he was one of the strongest GOP voices against the president.
He cheered on Biden for the 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which Trump strongly opposed and which almost certainly contributed to the rampant inflation that Joe unleashed upon America. Thanks, Mitch.
Nevertheless, McConnell did reluctantly endorse Trump’s 2024 bid for the presidency, so it came as a surprise to some Friday night when he made the last-minute choice to vote "no" on Trump’s Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, and came oh so close to tanking the confirmation. Vice President JD Vance had to step in and cast the deciding 51st vote.
By a Whisker:
BREAKING: US Senate Votes on Pete Hegseth Nomination for Defense Secretary
HOT TAKES: After Hegseth Confirmation, Dems Rumored to Be in Tears and Demanding Struggle Sessions
McConnell proved that he preferred the old smoky backrooms of Washington, D.C. and isn’t all that interested in the transformational change that almost 80 million people voted for when they elected Trump. In a press release, he attacked Hegseth for not being a typical bureaucrat:
McConnell said that he did not have confidence in Hegseth’s ability to lead the Pentagon at a time of escalating national security threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and their proxies.
“Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests,” he said in a statement.
“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been,” he said.
What makes the move extra Swampy is that he did not make his position clear until the very end. How principled. What leadership.
Oh, What a Night: 'On His Way': Hot Takes on JD Vance Casting Tie-Breaking Hegseth Confirmation Vote Were Hilarious
The internet smoked Mitch thoroughly. The Federalist’s Sean Davis:
Now it’s time for Trump to crush, with extreme prejudice, the entire Mitch McConnell staffer-fundraiser-lobbyist network in D.C. Ban them from all admin jobs and appointments, PNG their clients, and cut them off from all RNC/congressional campaign contracts.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) January 25, 2025
A fairweather friend:
🚨 WTF? Mitch McConnell immediately walked over and CELEBRATED with the Democrats after voting against Hegseth
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 25, 2025
This man HAS TO GO in 2026.
The people of Kentucky voted for Trump’s mandate—not this anti-Trump BS. pic.twitter.com/bfFZtayx51
Trump, meanwhile, was busy in Los Angeles thrashing Golden State leaders for their epic failures in wildfire preparation, but he took the news in stride, pointing out that the outcome was what mattered in the end:
Reporter asks Trump about Mitch McConnell’s no vote on Pete Hegseth:
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 25, 2025
Trump: “I didn’t even know that. I just heard that we won. Winning is what matters right?” pic.twitter.com/IHkIdmpSrv
At the rate we’re going, it sure looks as if Donald Trump is turning around the malaise that infected this country under the Biden-Harris regime. Should he continue in his successes, Mitch McConnell—who some call “The Turtle”—will deserve little if any of the credit.
This was an unimpressive move, and it will definitely be part of what he will be remembered for.
Hegseth advisor to CNN on Mitch McConnell’s NO vote:
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 25, 2025
“McConnell is a fraud. Spent his entire career as a leader talking about the team. As soon as he's out of leadership, the first thing he does is stab the team right in the back….” pic.twitter.com/KDnORZfIJ9
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