Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed former President Trump’s re-election campaign on Wednesday after Trump collected nearly 1,000 delegates from a thunderous performance on Super Tuesday.
‘It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States. It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support,’ McConnell said in a statement.
He continued: ‘During his Presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people including tax reform that supercharged our economy and a generational change of our federal judiciary — most importantly, the Supreme Court.’
‘I look forward to the opportunity of switching from playing defense against the terrible policies the Biden administration has pursued to a sustained offense geared towards making a real difference in improving the lives of the American people,’ McConnell added.
The endorsement comes after Trump’s only primary opponent, Nikki Haley, suspended her presidential campaign on Wednesday morning.
McConnell, who turned 82 last month, was the most senior member of Congress that had yet to endorse Trump.
His endorsement comes after he vehemently criticized Trump and called him ‘morally responsible’ for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
McConnell blamed Trump for inciting the riot and said he was responsible for the ‘entire manufactured atmosphere of looming catastrophe’ and ‘wild myths’ about the election. The Senate leader ultimately did not vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges.
McConnell’s endorsement comes as he announced last week that he would step down as Republican leader to pursue ‘life’s next chapter.’
‘One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,’ he said on the Senate floor. ‘So I stand before you today… to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.’
‘I still have enough gas in the tank to thoroughly disappoint my critics, and I intend to do so with all the enthusiasm which they have become accustomed,’ McConnell added.
He will serve the remainder of his term, which formally ends in January 2027.