McConnell shrugs off Trump, says 'I have the votes' to lead Senate GOP - New York Post

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said helium is assured helium volition go the chamber’s longest-serving enactment person contempt blistering attacks by erstwhile President Donald Trump.

“I person the votes,” McConnell (R-Ky.) told CNN Tuesday.

The 80-year-old has been the apical Senate Republican since 2007. If McConnell is elected to different two-year word arsenic league person aboriginal adjacent year, his tenure would surpass that of Montana Democrat Mike Mansfield, who led his enactment successful the Senate from 1961 to 1977 — serving arsenic bulk person the full time.

However, McConnell declined to accidental Tuesday whether helium would effort to enactment connected arsenic GOP person done the remainder of his existent Senate term, which ends successful 2027.

“I’m not going to spell there,” helium said. “I’m assured I’ll beryllium re-elected to different two-year term.”

However, McConnell besides vowed not to chopped his Senate word short, adjacent if helium chooses to measurement down from leadership.

Former President Donald Trump claimed Sen. Mitch McConnell has a “DEATH WISH” and was “willing to instrumentality the Country down with him.”AFP via Getty Images

Mitch McConnell has been the apical Senate Republican since 2007.AP

If re-elected, Sen. Mitch McConnell’s tenure would surpass that of Montana Democrat Mike Mansfield.AP

“Oh, I’m surely going to implicit the word I was elected to by the radical of Kentucky, nary question astir that,” said McConnell, who has held his spot since 1985.

McConnell’s seemingly unafraid presumption arsenic the astir almighty Republican successful Washington defies the ire of Trump, who raged connected Truth Social earlier this month that the Kentuckian has a “DEATH WISH” and was “willing to instrumentality the Country down with him.” The 45th president besides referred to McConnell’s wife, Trump’s erstwhile Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, arsenic “Coco Chow,” a remark seen by galore arsenic racist.

McConnell declined to beryllium drawn retired connected Trump’s attacks Tuesday.

“The lone clip I’ve responded to the president, I think, since helium near bureau is erstwhile helium gave maine my favourite nickname – Old Crow – which I considered a compliment,” the legislator said. “And aft all, it was Henry Clay’s favourite bourbon.”