The book “The Price of Power” reveals that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell privately criticized former President Donald Trump as “stupid,” “ill-tempered,” a “narcissist,” and a “despicable human being” following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. McConnell acknowledged that both Democrats and Republicans were eager for Trump to leave the White House due to his behavior, lies, and misrepresentations. The Senate GOP leader was particularly agitated by Trump’s claims of election fraud ahead of the Georgia runoff, which ultimately led to the loss of Republican control of the Senate.
McConnell publicly split from Trump during the certification of the 2020 election results, warning against a “poisonous path” where only the winners of an election accept the outcome. While he opposed the second impeachment of Trump, McConnell held the former president “practically and morally responsible” for provoking the events of Jan. 6, 2021. However, his private remarks about Trump, as detailed in the book, were far more brutal than his public criticisms.
After the Capitol riot, McConnell addressed his staff and was reported to have sobbed softly, expressing his concern for their wellbeing. He emphasized that his comments about Trump were mild compared to those of other Trump loyalists like JD Vance and Lindsey Graham. McConnell, known for carefully choosing his words and speaking little to the press, allowed author Michael Tackett to gain insight into his thoughts through years of recorded diaries.
Throughout his time in Republican leadership, McConnell has lamented the changes within the party, especially the shift towards isolationism. The 82-year-old Senator has had a strained relationship with Trump, who has lashed out at McConnell and his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. McConnell announced his decision to step down as GOP Senate leader by the end of the year, making him the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. Republican senators are expected to hold a private internal election to select his successor after the upcoming election.
The tension between McConnell and Trump has been mutual, with Trump occasionally criticizing McConnell since leaving office. Despite their differences, McConnell took a conciliatory approach during a meeting with Trump in Washington, DC, where the former president seemed to mend fences with Republican lawmakers who had previously criticized him. McConnell’s reputation for carefully chosen words and strategic silence has allowed him to navigate the changing political landscape of the Republican Party from the Reagan era into the era of Trump’s populist politics, as detailed in Tackett’s upcoming book.
