WASHINGTON — In the days following former President Donald Trump’s caustic call for the removal of Mitch McConnell as leader of the Senate Republicans, few in the party ranks have followed suit.
The collective shrug to Trump’s outburst — among lawmakers and conservative groups — speaks to McConnell’s endurance as the GOP’s top tactician as much as it explains the prevailing doubts that the former president has any real plan to orchestrate such a coup.
“He’d have to identify an alternative, he’d have to have people whipping votes for that alternative. I don’t see Trump pulling all these pieces together,” said Lanhee Chen, who served as policy director for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. “I don’t think he cares enough about it. Yeah, he’s mad about McConnell. I just don’t see him focusing on this.”
