Former president Donald Trump is vetting potential candidates to depose Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., from his leadership position, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Trump has been reportedly speaking with senators and allies to see if any other Republican senator would be interested in challenging the leader of the Senate GOP.
So far, there has been little interest from McConnell’s Senate colleagues.
Though Trump and McConnell had a good working relationship while Trump was in office, it began to sour after McConnell blamed Trump for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
“There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day. No question about it. The people that stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president,” McConnell said at the time.
In response, Trump has blasted McConnell as an ineffective leader.
“We need good leadership. Mitch McConnell has not done a great job. I think they should change Mitch McConnell,” Trump said in April.
As evidence of McConnell’s poor leadership, Trump cited Democrats’ “bipartisan” infrastructure bill, which several Senate Republicans voted for.
“Nobody will ever understand why Mitch McConnell allowed this non-infrastructure bill to be passed. He has given up all of his leverage for the big whopper of a bill that will follow,” Trump said in a statement. “I have quietly said for years that Mitch McConnell is the most overrated man in politics — now I don’t have to be quiet anymore.”
At least one Republican, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., has expressed doubt that Trump will be able to get rid of McConnell.
“I just don’t realistically see that happening,” he told the Journal.
