Nov 18, 2024 - Politics & Policy

McConnell vs. Trump on Cabinet confirmations

Stef W. Kight

This is Mitch McConnell — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) heads toward the Senate Chamber at the Capitol on Monday. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The possibility of Trump vs. McConnell fights in 2025 is lighting up the Senate before incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune is even in his new office.

Why it matters: Outgoing GOP leader Mitch McConnell has said he will feel "liberated" when he is no longer a "heat shield for his members," according to his biographer Michael Tackett of the recently released "The Price of Power."

Thune promised to consider the idea of recess appointments before winning his majority leader election.
But McConnell signaled to a private group over the weekend that he'll stand in Trump's way on recess appointments, as we've confirmed. The comments were first reported by The New Yorker's Jane Mayer.
When reporters asked him Monday about his weekend comments, McConnell retorted that it was "too early for interviews in the hall."

🔎 Trump allies expect McConnell to be a wild card vote on controversial nominees and are resigned to having limited leverage on him, GOP sources familiar told Axios.

🔥 Sources expect McConnell to be more outspoken about the issues he cares about, after years of keeping his cards close to the vest.
McConnell, 82, is up for reelection in 2026 but isn't broadly expected to run again.

The bottom line: McConnell plans to fight back against the growing influence of isolationist thinking in the GOP.

"I'm going to make John McCain sound like a dove," McConnell told Tackett.

Add Axios on Google

McConnell vs. Trump on Cabinet confirmations

What to read next