Gingrich: Trump’s attacks on McConnell ‘totally misplaced’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is defending Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), calling President Trump’s attacks on the GOP leader “totally misplaced.”

“I think it’s totally misplaced,” Gingrich, an ally of Trump, said on the Laura Ingraham Show on Friday. “And furthermore, McConnell’s going to still be there. You don’t pick a fight with a teammate, and they’re not going to replace McConnell. And so I don’t understand what the president thinks he’s accomplishing.”

Gingrich also repeated his calls for the president to take some responsibility for the Senate’s failure to pass an ObamaCare repeal. 

{mosads}

“He talks about how Mitch has to get this done — well, this is a team,” he said. “The president is a key member of the team. You could argue he’s the leader of the team, so if things aren’t working, maybe, he needs to take part of the ownership here.”

The interview was first reported by CNN’s “K-File.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked McConnell in recent days, after the Kentucky Republican said the president has “excessive expectations” for advancing his legislative agenda in Congress. 

On Thursday, Trump stepped up the war of words, suggesting that the senator should consider stepping down as leader if he could not pass the GOP’s agenda.

“If he doesn’t get repeal and replace done, and if he doesn’t get taxes done — meaning cuts and reform, and if he doesn’t get a very easy one to get done — infrastructure — if he doesn’t get them done, then you can ask me that question,” Trump told reporters.

GOP senators, though, have publicly rallied behind McConnell after those remarks.

“Passing POTUS’s legislative agenda requires a team effort. No one is more qualified than Mitch McConnell to lead Senate in that effort,” Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the upper chamber’s No. 2 Republican, tweeted Friday.