McConnell Unveils Priority Focus

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said during an interview over the weekend that the most important issue he is focused on is making sure Republicans retake control of the chamber this November.

McConnell made the remarks during a Sunday interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ “Face The Nation” while talking about Congress’ recent passage of foreign aid spending packages.

“What I want to do and what I’m focused on is not the presidential race, but getting the Senate back,” McConnell said. “I think the single most important thing I can do is make sure my successor is the majority leader, no matter how the presidential election comes out.”

“The fact that our nominee basically decided not to continue whipping people against the package was a good sign and I’m going to be advocating increasing the defense budget no matter who gets elected, and preparing ourselves for the long term, which is China, Russia, and Iran,” he continued. “This administration’s budget requests for defense haven’t even kept up with inflation. That needs to change and we need to change as well. Here in Congress, the Democrats have always insisted that we spend just as much on domestic as defense. That changed in the last appropriations process. Our spending needs to reflect the needs, and the needs now are on the defense side.”

He said that the conflicts that have erupted across the world under Biden have “gotten our attention on both sides,” with most members now understanding that ” this is a very, very dangerous period for our country.”

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“What I’m doing is trying to change the Senate so that we have a majority and trying to produce a majority of the majority of the importance of defense spending, no matter who wins the presidential election,” he added. “I can’t control that. I have some influence here in the Senate. I intend to use it no matter who gets elected president to increase our defense budget and get ready for the challenges that we have ahead of us, rather than just looking backward.”

WATCH:

Before leaving the Senate, @LeaderMcConnell says he intends to use his influence, “no matter who gets elected president, to increase our defense budget.”

When asked if that means potentially going against the GOP and Donald Trump, McConnell says: “I’ve been willing to do that.” pic.twitter.com/ATKbkD6U3Z

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 28, 2024

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