'These people should read a book': GOP derided as 'absolute clowns' after booing McConnell

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was loudly boo'd during his appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention Monday.

The Senate leader, who turned 82-years-old earlier this year, and announced that he plans to step aside this fall, criticized Donald Trump following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, but formally endorsed the former president's 2024 campaign in March.

After publicly criticizing the Trump and his base — and taking months to endorse the MAGA leader — Spectrum News reported earlier this year that the "longest serving party leader in Senate history has grown increasingly unpopular in his conference and among the Republican base."

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McConnell's unpopularity was on display during day one of the RNC when "he spoke on behalf of Kentucky's delegates during Monday's roll call," according to Axios.

Several political experts slammed the Republican Party's response to the GOP leader.

Manhattan Institute senior fellow Brian Riedl wrote, "Absolute clowns. McConnell has done more for the conservative movement than any member of Congress in the past 50 years. These people should read a book, or even turn on C-Span someday."

CS Monitor Washington bureau senior reporter Cameron Joseph commented, "Picking Vance may not help Trump distance himself from Project 2025. Here's Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, its chief architect, reacting to the news by saying he and Vance are 'good friends.' Vance wrote the [foreword] to Roberts' new book."

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White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates wrote, ".@SpeakerJohnson to @FoxNews on 7/1: 'Unless the president is reading off a teleprompter, I don't think he's capable of making these big decisions.' Speaker Johnson today after his teleprompter malfunctions: 'And there goes the teleprompter...' [walks off to triumphant music]"