CNN
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been a pivotal figure for the Republican Party—employing strategic maneuvers and political influence to block significant portions of former President Barack Obama’s agenda, facilitate key victories for President Donald Trump during his initial term, and establish a conservative 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court.

However, he now finds himself in a unique position.

Just weeks after stepping down from his leadership role as a new GOP majority was inaugurated, McConnell appears to be approaching the twilight of his political career, disconnected from the party he has led as both minority and majority leader since 2007.

McConnell has voted against Trump’s Cabinet nominees three times, placing him at odds with most Senate Republicans. He opposed Pete Hegseth for the defense secretary position, critiquing the former Fox News host for his lack of relevant experience and uncertain plans for facing China’s aggression towards Taiwan. He was the only Republican to oppose Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for director of national intelligence, referring to her “history of concerning lapses in judgment.”

On Thursday, McConnell, who overcame polio during childhood, was the lone Republican vote against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services, stating that Kennedy “didn’t demonstrate he was the best candidate to lead the nation’s health agency.”

McConnell has openly expressed concerns about the GOP’s shift towards Trumpism, distancing itself from values he strongly supports, such as free trade and an assertive foreign policy.

“He is keen to show his independent thinking and the strong beliefs that he didn’t always exhibit as a majority leader,” observed Indiana Senator Todd Young, a Republican. “He feels free.”

At 82, McConnell is embracing this new phase of his career, which offers him liberation from the burdens of managing a fragmented party, allowing him to advocate for his perspective that the United States should maintain an active global role.

“Leadership comes with recognized responsibilities, especially after 18 years at the helm. You might have to sacrifice some of your independence to represent your entire conference,” remarked Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who previously opposed Hegseth. “Now, we see him as an independent legislator, and he seems content.”

While he’s opposed three of Trump’s nominees, McConnell has been careful not to undermine his party’s Senate leadership, mindful of the responsibilities tied to those roles and freshly aware of the complexities of steering an often-divided party.

His votes against Trump’s nominees have not incited backlash from Senate Republicans, including the party’s new Majority Leader, South Dakota Senator John Thune, who noted that McConnell had given him and the party’s whip, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, prior notice of his decisions.

“There were no surprises,” Thune told CNN recently. “He has communicated his stance on Trump’s nominees clearly.”

While it’s not commonly stated, some Senate Republicans express frustration with McConnell’s newfound independence.

“One of the most disappointing aspects for me is that Thune has been incredibly loyal to Mitch for decades. During critical moments, he followed McConnell’s lead, even when it didn’t serve him well,” lamented Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. “I don’t see that loyalty reciprocated now.”

Meanwhile, Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with McConnell.

After McConnell’s vote against confirming Kennedy, Trump stated in the Oval Office that he believes McConnell is “mentally unfit” and expressed pity for the senator, asserting that McConnell was unprepared to step down from his leadership role.

“In my opinion, he wasn’t mentally fit a decade ago. He allowed the Republican Party to decline,” asserted Trump. “If I hadn’t intervened, the Republican Party might not even be viable anymore.”

Trump continued, implying that McConnell—a childhood polio survivor who cited Kennedy’s long-time vaccine criticisms as part of his vote against Kennedy’s confirmation—might not have actually had polio.

“I have no idea whether he had polio,” Trump remarked. “All I can say is that he shouldn’t have been leader. He realizes that. He votes against almost everything now and seems quite bitter, and our party is strong without him—he’s essentially lost his influence, which is reflected in his votes.”

While McConnell, a veteran senator, has not declared his retirement, potential candidates are already preparing for what promises to be a competitive primary in 2026 to take his place. Early indications suggest that major contenders are aligning themselves with Trump rather than McConnell.

Donald Trump Jr. voiced how Trump supporters view the likely race to succeed McConnell, mentioning one potential candidate’s criticism of McConnell, and writing this week on X, “If you’re running for office, especially in Kentucky, and seek my support, don’t bother unless you’re ready to publicly oppose Mitch McConnell.”

From McConnell’s perspective, his assessment of Trump and their relationship diverges significantly. Though he has occasionally criticized Trump, McConnell has expressed a desire for Trump to succeed as president and has largely supported him, including voting for many other nominees.

The culmination of McConnell’s time as the longest-serving Senate leader—alongside his waning influence in both the Republican Party and the Senate—is indicative of a rapidly transforming political landscape.

Trump has run both campaigns and policies based on imposing high tariffs, slashing foreign aid, and pulling the U.S. out of international agreements, while McConnell has consistently opposed these directions.

“As the United States faces a new era of global power rivalry, some influential voices want to ignore the lessons learned from our previous great power conflict during the Cold War,” McConnell cautioned at the Reagan Defense Forum in December.

McConnell’s advocacy for a proactive U.S. stance against aggressors like Russia in Ukraine and China in Taiwan has, however, put him at odds with a growing portion of the Republican base that has adopted Trump’s isolationist mindset.

Despite this, McConnell’s views align with many Senate Republicans, as Missouri Senator Josh Hawley remarked, “the caucus still holds a considerable number of traditionalist viewpoints.”

“He likely represents a good portion of the party. That’s my impression,” Hawley noted, despite not sharing many of McConnell’s beliefs.

As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee, McConnell wields significant influence over U.S. military funding and global defense strategies.

He also leads the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees issues concerning election integrity and procedural matters like maintaining the filibuster—a rule requiring most legislation to achieve a 60-vote consensus—a practice McConnell has staunchly defended, while Trump has urged his party to abandon.

McConnell criticized Trump’s announcement regarding substantial tariffs that would impose additional costs on U.S. businesses for imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, as well as on aluminum and steel goods, in an op-ed published in the Louisville Courier-Journal.

“Trade wars with our partners harm working-class families the most. The president has better tools at his disposal to protect American workers without placing higher costs on our families and businesses,” McConnell remarked in his piece published on Wednesday.

With Democrats currently out of power in all three branches of government, they have long criticized McConnell but are now acknowledging his independent stance.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine commented that McConnell is “voting with his conscience and is not intimidated by anyone.”

He added that McConnell is casting votes that resonate with many in the Republican party: “There are deep-seated concerns, but many are scared. They fear retribution from MAGA supporters.”

“Mitch McConnell is not fearful of anyone or anything right now, which is commendable,” Kaine remarked.

Nevertheless, from a broader perspective, many Democrats contend that McConnell has played a significant role in leading to the current circumstances: Trump returning for another term with limited checks on his power.

They hold McConnell’s strategic use of the filibuster responsible for the divisions in Washington and criticize his decision to prevent a vote on Obama’s Supreme Court nominee for nearly a year, which allowed Trump to appoint a successor—an unprecedented maneuver that secured a conservative majority for generations.

McConnell could have supported the Democratic effort to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021—an event that prompted his wife, Elaine Chao, to resign from her position as Trump’s transportation secretary. Had Trump been convicted, he could have been rendered ineligible to run for office once more.

“As a Christian, I believe in redemption,” expressed former Florida Representative Val Demings on X. “However, the senator’s critical opportunity has passed. America could have avoided this turmoil with a bit of bravery during the first and second impeachment proceedings. Principles matter every time.”

Instead, McConnell led Senate Republicans in their refusal to convict Trump. He later endorsed Trump—who had once disparaged his wife and dubbed him “Old Crow”—in March 2024 when it became evident that Trump would be the GOP nominee.

When asked whether McConnell’s votes against Trump might shift long-held Democratic perceptions of him, Kaine replied: “That’s not really how I’m approaching it.”

CNN’s Ted Barrett, DJ Judd, and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.