Former President Donald Trump went after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife over criticism of Senate candidates backed by Trump, Insider reports.
McConnell last week took a veiled shot at Trump, lamenting that the Republican Party may fail to win back the Senate in part due to “candidate quality.”
McConnell has campaigned against candidates endorsed by Trump in numerous key states over concerns that he is backing unelectable picks.
“I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Senate races are just different — they're statewide, candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” McConnell said last week.
“Right now, we have a 50-50 Senate and a 50-50 country, but I think when all is said and done this fall, we’re likely to have an extremely close Senate, either our side up slightly or their side up slightly.”
Trump hits back:
Trump responded to McConnell’s comments in a Truth Social post on Sunday.
"Why do Republicans Senators allow a broken down hack politician, Mitch McConnell, to openly disparage hard working Republican candidates for the United States Senate. This is such an affront to honor and to leadership," Trump complained.
Trump then took a shot at McConnell’s wife Elaine Chao, who served as his transportation secretary while facing allegations that she was using her position to help her family’s shipping company.
"He should spend more time (and money!) getting them elected, and less time helping his crazy wife and family get rich on China!" Trump wrote.
Trump’s candidates struggle:
Trump’s candidates have struggled in key Senate races.
Mehmet Oz is down double digits in most polls against Democrat John Fetterman in Pennsylvania.
Blake Masters is nearing a similar margin of deficit in his race against Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly.
Georgia Republican Herschel Walker trails Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Nevada Republican Adam Laxalt is solidly behind Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.
