Schumer: McConnell has chance to ‘salvage’ some of his reputation

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in an interview published Monday said he believes Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will be remembered “poorly,” while noting he could save some of his reputation by getting “the old Republican Party back.”

Schumer told Punchbowl News he has recently been “more friendly” with McConnell in light of the Republican’s efforts to shore up GOP votes for bipartisan legislation under President Biden, including the most recent aid package for Ukraine. This, however, may not have been enough to change McConnell’s legacy, Schumer added.

“[McConnell’s] role in history, in my opinion, will go down poorly,” Schumer said, pointing to McConnell’s longtime push to shift the Supreme Court to the right.

“Not just on Roe, but on issue after issue where they’re so far out of touch with the American people,” he added, referring to the landmark decision that ended the constitutional right to an abortion. “Even when McConnell thought Trump was wrong, he went along with him too many times.”

McConnell and former President Trump’s relations were often tense during Trump’s term. Their strained relationship was no secret, with the ex-president repeatedly criticizing the GOP leader since his 2020 reelection loss, and McConnell has occasionally taken a jab of his own. McConnell ultimately endorsed Trump’s reelection bid, stating it was “abundantly clear” the former president had most of the GOP’s support.

Schumer argued McConnell, who will step down as the Senate’s GOP leader in November, still could “salvage” his reputation, Punchbowl reported.

“He can salvage some of that reputation — and I’m not trying to tell him what to do — by trying to get the old Republican Party back,” Schumer said. “He will ally with us in not being isolationist. He feels that passionately.”

If Trump loses by “quite a bit,” a path toward the “old” GOP could be possible, Schumer argued, noting he was able to work with Republicans in 2021 and 2022.

“I know from my Senate experience and my friendship with Senate colleagues that many of them, even if they go along with Trump, don’t like him and don’t think he’s good for their party or what they believe in. Exhibit A is Mitch McConnell,” Schumer said.

McConnell said last month that deterring America’s adversaries should be “front and center” for the next president, pushing to maintain a strong military and support for allies.

The Hill reached out to McConnell’s office for comment on Schumer’s remarks.