A recent poll found significantly greater support for former President Donald Trump compared to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell among Republican voters.
Trump had a favorability rating of 76% versus just 33% for McConnell, while McConnell’s unfavorability was 44% compared to 17% for Trump.
This 43 point gap underscores the popularity of Trump’s America First agenda, which McConnell often opposes.
McConnell said he will remain in the Senate to fight the isolationist wing of the Republican party on issues like Ukraine aid.
“I’m not leaving the Senate,” McConnell said. “I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party. …And the symbol of that lately is, ‘Are we gonna help Ukraine or not?’”
However, under McConnell’s long tenure as Senate leader, the national debt rose over $30 trillion, illegal immigration continued, real wages stagnated, and big banks were bailed out, among other issues cited as contradicting core Republican priorities.