'Absolutely': McConnell Says He Would Support Trump in 2024 if He's the Republican Presidential Nominee

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Feb 26, 2021 02:14 AM EST

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday said he would back former President Donald Trump if he wins the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

"Well, there's a lot to happen between now and '24. I've got at least four members that I think are planning to run for president, plus some governors and others. There's no incumbent, a wide-open race, and should be fun for you all to cover," McConnell said in an interview with Fox News.

When asked if he would support the former president if he wins the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, McConnell noted: "Absolutely."

This statement came days after Trump lambasted McConnell for his statement condemning the former president's behavior during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

NBC News reported that McConnell earlier said there is no question that Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the Capitol riot.

"The people who stormed this building [Capitol] believed that they were acting upon the wishes and instructions of their president," McConnell noted.

Does McConnell Really Support Trump?

During the Fox interview, Politico said that McConnell stopped short of offering his immediate support for Trump as he stressed that numerous other Republicans also hinted that they would run for the presidency.

Politico also noted that McConnell signaled his desire to move on from the 2020 elections and focus on retaking the House and Senate in 2022.

CBS News noted that Trump shared his thoughts about McConnell before the Senator announced support to him as a 2022 Republican presidential candidate. According to Trump, it was a mistake to support the Kentucky Republican in his reelection as he calls McConnell a "dour sullen and unsmiling political hack."

Forbes also reported that Trump also claimed credits for the Kentucky senator's 2020 reelection victory.

McConnell on Trump's Acquittance

According to an ABC6 report, McConnell explained that he voted to acquit Trump because the Senate has no jurisdiction over a former president.

McConnell has remained loyal to Trump during the former president's days in the office, even gaining the impression as the two most powerful members of the Republican party.

But Trump said he regrets that when "McConnell 'begged' for my strong support and endorsement before the great people of Kentucky in the 2020 election, I gave it to him."

"He (McConnell) went from one point down to 20 points up, and won. How quickly he forgets. Without my endorsement, McConnell would have lost, and lost badly," the former president added in his statement.

Politico further noted that Trump also blasted McConnell, saying that the Senate Minority leader weakens the Republican party.

Forbes reported that shortly after McConnell expressed his support to Trump if he wins the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump endorsed Senator Jerry Moran of Kansan and vowed to back primary challengers who "espouse Making America great Again."

Politico shared that McConnell pointed out that there was no Civil War" within the party, and it remained competitive with the Democrats in razor-thin majorities in House and Senate.

Politico added that Trump's running for the presidency in 2024 remains to hover over the party, as the former president retains his popularity among Republican voters.