In his final act in Congress, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — who was the Republican leader before stepping down in 2024 — took aim at the growing MAGA wing of the Republican Party, dismissing suggestions about popularity and isolationist politics while defending his record.
“These suggestions about who’s popular and who isn’t irritate the hell out of me, because when you get into the leadership position, you get beat up,” McConnell said in a recent interview with the Lexington Herald‑Leader published Wednesday.
McConnell, 83, warned of risks reminiscent of the 1930s, when the slogan that has defined President Donald Trump's movement rose amid isolationism.
“I think this is the most dangerous period since before World War Two. There’s certain similarities right now to the ’30s,” he said, referencing the notorious Smoot‑Hawley tariffs and isolationist sentiment.
He added: "Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called 'America First.' Sound familiar?"
The Kentucky Republican also highlighted his long record of wins, saying: “Seven victories in Kentucky, nine victories in the (Senate Republican) conference.”
McConnell has won every election in Kentucky since defeating Democratic incumbent Walter “Dee” Huddleston in 1984, and earned a record‑breaking 18 years as Senate GOP leader.
During the wide‑ranging interview held at the McConnell‑Chao Archives at the University of Louisville, McConnell also reflected on his legacy.
He mentioned three major achievements for Kentucky: the mid‑2000s tobacco industry buyout, securing $1.6 billion for a toll‑free Brent Spence Bridge, and leading the deconstruction of a chemical weapons storage facility in Richmond.
He explained that his focus over the remaining two years in office would be on defense and foreign policy.
“I’m not doing that anymore [campaigning],” he said. “I thought the best thing for me to do the last two years was to focus on what I thought was the most important thing I might have an impact on, and that’s defense and foreign policy.”
