McConnell criticizes Trump's comments on the Constitution - CNN

CNN  — 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized erstwhile President Donald Trump’s comments successful a station connected Truth Social earlier this week that called for the “termination” of the Constitution.

“Let maine conscionable say, anyone seeking the presidency who thinks that the Constitution could someway beryllium suspended oregon not followed, it seems to maine would person a precise hard clip being sworn successful arsenic President of the United States,” McConnell said.

McConnell would not accidental if helium would enactment Trump if helium gets the Republican information successful 2024 erstwhile asked by CNN’s Manu Raju.

“What I’m saying is it would beryllium beauteous hard to beryllium sworn successful arsenic to the presidency if you’re not consenting to uphold the Constitution,” McConnell replied. “That’s what I said, and I’ve conscionable said it again.”

Republicans returned to Washington connected Monday forced to face the latest Trump-driven controversy. After days of soundlessness implicit Trump’s telephone to terminate the Constitution, a fig of apical Senate Republicans have present condemned the comment. But adjacent among those speaking out, fewer person said outright that it should disqualify Trump from moving again for the White House, portion galore much Hill Republicans person truthful acold remained soundless connected the issue.

“I afloat enactment the Constitution,” House GOP person Kevin McCarthy told CNN connected Tuesday portion walking onto the House level erstwhile asked astir Trump’s remarks. He did not elaborate.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, avoided condemning Trump erstwhile asked astir the erstwhile president’s telephone to terminate the Constitution successful bid to overturn the 2020 predetermination and alternatively focused connected talking astir the value of the document.

Initially, erstwhile asked by CNN, Scalise disputed the characterization that Trump called for the termination of the Constitution.

When work Trump’s comments connection for word, Scalise past said: “I didn’t spot that, but I don’t enactment — evidently I’m a beardown protagonist of the Constitution.”

“Next to the Bible, it’s the astir important papers successful the past of the world,” helium added.

Asked whether Trump should halt predetermination denialism arsenic helium campaigns for 2024, Scalise said: “how helium runs his campaign” is up to him.

This communicative has been updated with further developments.