‘Cold War’ Between Trump and McConnell So Toxic McConnell Had to Just Issue a Statement Denying It

Feud Between Trump and McConnell Grows Worse

The relationship between President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has become toxic, showing just how incompetent the Republican Party is at governing. The New York Times on Tuesday described it as a “locked in a political cold war” and an “uneasy governing alliance” that “has curdled into a feud of mutual resentment and sometimes outright hostility, complicated by the position of Mr. McConnell’s wife, Elaine L. Chao, in Mr. Trump’s cabinet.”

The Times, which noted the two top Republicans have not spoken in weeks, went on to say “McConnell has privately expressed uncertainty that Mr. Trump will be able to salvage his administration after a series of summer crises.” It also said McConnell isn’t sure if trump will serve a full term in office.

Hours later, in his off-the-rail campaign speech in Phoenix, Trump badgered McConnell to end the filibuster, lamenting that Republicans have to rely on eight Democrats to pass legislation. (Trump ignored that he and McConnell could not convince even 50 Senators to vote to repeal ObamaCare, fortunately.)

Trump followed it up with a tweet Wednesday morning.

The media has been abuzz since the Times report, with cable news shows leading with the story.

Wednesday afternoon a well-known right wing blog, Hot Air, revealed McConnell’s approval rating nationally is at 9%. And just 18% in his home state of Kentucky.

Literally two hours later, McConnell’s office sent out a press release pushing back the “rumors” (leaked by a McConnell ally, his former chief of staff) that the President and the Majority Leader are fighting.

“The President and I, and our teams, have been and continue to be in regular contact about our shared goals,” the statement reads. 

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we are committed to advancing our shared agenda together and anyone who suggests otherwise is clearly not part of the conversation,” it concludes.

CNN Wednesday afternoon reports Trump has “no plans” to meet with McConnell before Labor Day.

The White House is scheduling meetings between the President and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell during the first week back for Congress, a senior White House official told CNN on Wednesday, signaling that despite tense relations, the two are not expected to meet before Labor Day.

CNN’s Senior Congressional Reporter yesterday:

The New York Times article also said Trump had “berated” McConnell “in a phone call that quickly devolved into a profane shouting match.” During the call Trump blasted McConnell for what the Times described as “bungling” the ObamaCare repeal vote,  and saying Trump “was even more animated about what he intimated was the Senate leader’s refusal to protect him from investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.”

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