McConnell Attacks Trump, Refuses to Say if America Is Better Off in Trump Era

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), once the most powerful Republican in Washington, is still refusing to acknowledge the success of Donald Trump’s America First agenda. In a new interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, McConnell dodged when asked whether the nation is in a stronger position today thanks to Trump’s reshaping of U.S. politics. Instead, he leaned on old establishment talking points, praising elements of Joe Biden’s foreign policy.

“You know, I’m not sure enough time has passed to start evaluating who made a difference and who didn’t,” McConnell said when pressed. Rather than crediting the economic boom, stronger borders, and renewed U.S. strength that defined Trump’s first term, McConnell shifted the conversation toward his own legacy and foreign policy priorities.

At 83, McConnell has made clear that his focus in his final years is not on the working families of Kentucky but on doubling down abroad. He remains one of the loudest voices in Washington for sending billions more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, even as many Americans struggle with inflation at home. He warned of supposed parallels between the 1930s and today, claiming, “I think this is the most dangerous period since before World War Two,” before taking a swipe at Trump’s policies: “Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called ‘America First.’ Sound familiar?”

That framing is telling. While Trump emphasized protecting U.S. jobs, rebuilding industry, and standing up to China, McConnell has long defended a globalist approach. His family’s financial ties to Chinese state-linked enterprises have only fueled more skepticism about where his loyalties lie. Critics, including Trump himself, have argued McConnell’s judgment is clouded by those connections.

McConnell’s coziness with Biden’s interventionist agenda is not sitting well back home. A July poll from Morning Consult found that McConnell remains the most unpopular senator in America for the 18th straight quarter, with nearly 60% of Kentuckians disapproving of his job performance. His standing plummeted at the end of Trump’s first term and has never recovered.

The rift inside Kentucky’s GOP is also widening. Nate Morris, a leading candidate to succeed McConnell, blasted him along with rivals Daniel Cameron and Rep. Andy Barr for continuing to “bend the knee” to the longtime senator. As Morris wrote on X: “Both of my opponents continue to bend the knee to the man they call their ‘mentor’ and refuse to say a word about Mitch McConnell constantly attacking President Trump and his America First foreign policy and tariffs. I’m running to turn the page on Mitch and put America First.”

Meanwhile, McConnell went so far as to praise Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear, suggesting he might make a strong Senate candidate. For many conservatives, it was a striking admission: rather than fighting to secure Kentucky’s Senate seat for Republicans, McConnell seems more concerned about preserving his own legacy and embracing business-as-usual politics.

The contrast could not be sharper. Trump’s America First agenda redefined the GOP by putting U.S. workers, sovereignty, and strength first. McConnell, however, continues to cling to a model that enriches global elites, empties the U.S. treasury overseas, and sidelines the will of his own voters.