>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
Here’s part of the exchange:
STAHL: How would you describe your relationship with President Trump?
MCCONNELL: Well, we haven’t spoken for quite a while. I was very upset about what happened January 6.
STAHL: You had to be evacuated from the Senate along with other leaders. Your staff was in your office. The rioters were banging on your door. Someone with a flagpole broke a window into your office.
MCCONNELL: Yeah. Well, my staff in the Capitol was putting furniture up against the doors.
STAHL: To prevent them from coming–
MCCONNELL: To prevent the rioters from outside from breaking the doors and getting at them. And what was it about? To try to prevent the orderly transfer of government, which had never happened in our country.
STAHL: Your staff, after the crisis was over, you went and spoke with them. You– it was a highly emotional situation. You remember?
MCCONNELL: Oh, I remember well.
STAHL: Do you remember what you told them?
MCCONNELL: Yeah, I remember what I told them. That’s the way I still feel about it.
McConnell Rejects Efforts to Reframe January 6
As the political landscape continues to shift, some conservatives have pushed back against the establishment’s portrayal of January 6. Many Trump supporters have framed the day as a protest against election irregularities rather than an insurrection. McConnell, however, stuck to his narrative, dismissing any attempts to alter the perception of that day.
Just Released: Trump White House Collector’s Bobblehead!
STAHL: What are your views on President Trump and his supporters trying to change what happened on January 6? They’re calling it a “day of love.” They called the rioters “martyrs.”
MCCONNELL: Yeah. No, it– it was an insurrection.
STAHL: What about the pardons for the people who stormed the Capitol that day?
MCCONNELL: I think pardoning the people who’ve been convicted is a mistake.
McConnell’s comments come as Trump has vowed to pardon many of the January 6 defendants if re-elected. Trump has repeatedly argued that these individuals have been treated unfairly compared to left-wing activists involved in violent protests in 2020.
McConnell vs. Trump: The Divide Widens
Beyond January 6, McConnell has continued to distance himself from Trump’s influence on the GOP. Recently, he voted against Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, citing concerns about his ability to lead the Pentagon. When asked if he would oppose more of Trump’s nominees in the future, McConnell refused to give a definitive answer.
“I haven’t any news to make on that front,” he said.
But perhaps the most inflammatory remark from McConnell came last month when he compared Trump’s America First slogan to rhetoric from Nazi Germany.
“We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War Two,” McConnell told The Financial Times. “Even the slogan is the same: ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s.”
McConnell’s comparison was widely criticized by conservatives, who argue that America First is about prioritizing national interests and securing U.S. sovereignty. Many view McConnell’s comments as another example of the GOP establishment attempting to undermine Trump’s movement.
With the 2024 election approaching, the battle lines within the Republican Party are becoming clearer. As Trump solidifies his support among grassroots conservatives, figures like McConnell seem determined to resist his influence. Whether McConnell’s stance resonates with voters or alienates them remains to be seen.
