In a series of private interviews, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly described former President Donald Trump using harsh words, labeling him a “stupid,” “ill-tempered,” and “despicable human being.” These remarks were uncovered through McConnell’s personal oral histories, shared with Michael Tackett, the deputy Washington bureau chief of the Associated Press, for his upcoming biography The Price of Power.
According to the AP’s account, McConnell made these comments shortly after the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. The Kentucky senator, who has led Senate Republicans since 2007, expressed a sense of relief at Trump’s departure from the White House. He was quoted saying that it wasn’t only Democrats eager for Trump to leave, but many Republicans as well.
McConnell also praised the “good judgment of the American people” for rejecting Trump in that election. “They’ve had enough of the constant falsehoods, the daily fabrications — and they fired him,” McConnell reportedly said.
Now 82 years old, McConnell has announced his decision to step down as GOP leader at the end of November. Despite his earlier criticisms and blaming Trump for being “practically responsible” for the January 6 Capitol riot, McConnell — like many Republicans — has since reversed his position.
Earlier this year, he publicly endorsed Trump as the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, stating, “It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.” This move aligns him with fellow GOP senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, who also went from critics to supporters of Trump.
Tackett’s biography reportedly reveals that, in private, McConnell voiced concerns about Trump’s worsening behavior following the election loss. “For a narcissist like him, that’s been really hard to take,” McConnell allegedly said. “His behavior since the election has been even worse than before — because now, he has no filter at all.”
In the end, McConnell’s candid words show the stark divide between what many GOP leaders once said privately about Trump — and what they now say publicly.