Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently declared that he will use the remaining time of his congressional term to tackle the “isolationist movement” of the GOP.
While speaking to WHAS radio host Terry Meiners, the Senate minority leader signaled that he would clash with his Republican colleagues who are at odds with the U.S. sending billions in foreign aid to countries like Ukraine and Israel.
McConnell, who plans to step down as leader of the GOP in the Senate, said, “I’m not leaving the Senate. I’m particularly involved in actually fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party and so many others as well.”
McConnell’s remarks came after Meiners asked the high-ranking Senate Republican about his mindset.
Q: “What’s your mindset now when your feet hit the floor in the morning?”
McConnell: "I'm not leaving the Senate. And I'm particularly involved in fighting back against the isolationist movement in my own party. The symbol lately is ‘are we gonna help Ukraine or not.’” pic.twitter.com/VHZprlxMGY
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 1, 2024
During the radio interview, McConnell referenced Ukraine’s ongoing war against Russia. Throughout the conflict, the U.S. has sent the war-torn European country billions of dollars in aid, prompting backlash from some Republicans.
“The symbol, lately, is ‘are we gonna help Ukraine or not?’ And I think it’s extremely important that we do that,” McConnell said.
In December 2023, the Pew Research Center released a poll showing that nearly 50% of Republicans believe the U.S. is providing excessive aid to Ukraine as the conflict, at the time, approached its two-year anniversary.
The sentiment shown in the poll is growing in Congress, with over 50% of Senate Republicans recently opposing a $95 billion foreign aid bill that would have provided Ukraine with $60 billion. Although the legislation passed the chamber, the House has not taken it up for consideration, according to the Daily Wire.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he is open to sending Ukraine additional aid. Such legislation would include “important innovations” that can unite the GOP in the House. During an interview with Fox News, the Louisiana congressman mentioned that the aid could come in the form of a loan — an idea floated by former President Donald Trump.
In the radio interview, Meiners pointed out that among the most vocal critics of sending further aid to Ukraine is Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has criticized McConnell, claiming he is out of touch with Kentucky residents.
In response, the Senate minority leader said Paul “would be the first one to say that he’s an isolationist. He has been all along. This is not anything new for him. And he and I have always disagreed on this kind of issue.”
