This is a political earthquake.
Longtime Republican leader Senator Mitch McConnell has announced that he will step away from his position as leader of the Republicans in the Senate.
McConnell, 82, standing before the Senate said that he’s stepping down as leader.
“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said in prepared remarks reported by The Associated Press. “So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
Mitch McConnell as he announces he will step down from his leadership role in November: “Father Time remains undefeated…It’s time for the next generation of leadership”
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) February 28, 2024
The news of McConnell’s announcement comes the day after it was reported that the Senate minority leader told Speaker Johnson to put the border aside and focus on the Senate Foreign Aid Bill.
According to Jake Sherman from Punch Bowl News, McConnell tried to negotiate with Jefferies by breaking up the bill in the House, and he wouldn’t budge. Johnson told McConnell that he’d work “hour by hour” not to resist passing the bill.
🚨🌙 INSIDE THE BIG FOUR’S OVAL OFFICE MEETING: THE WORLD VS. MIKE JOHNSON
MCCONNELL told JOHNSON that the Senate’s foreign aid bill is the only game in town, time is of the essence. Johnson talked about the border, but McConnell told him to put the border aside and focus on the…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) February 27, 2024
Speaker Johnson held the line and said that the border has to be dealt with first.
The next day, McConnell announced he is stepping down from leadership.
The quiet part out loud: Leadership of BOTH parties supports Ukraine first, America last! https://t.co/Se2NszgOGi
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 28, 2024
One thing that conservatives should celebrate about McConnell is his efforts to get judges confirmed during the Trump administration. For the most part, the Ninth Circuit Court is no longer a clown show, and he re-shaped SCOTUS to see Roe v. Wade overturned.
Now the question is, before McConnell leaves, is he going to pull an Arlen Spector?
I called on McConnell to step down over a year ago. This is good news. But why wait so long – we need new leadership now https://t.co/IG7wgaNI6Z
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) February 28, 2024
