– Then a NATO country will be next on the list – Dagsavisen

The high-profile senator Mitch McConnell stated in February that he will step down as the Republican leader of the Senate in November. The 82-year-old senator from Kentucky has been Republican Senate leader for almost two decades and has thus held the position longer than anyone before him, according to NTB.

When he announced the decision in the Senate, he said that he will continue as a regular senator until the term for which he has been elected, that is until January 2027. He was last re-elected in 2020.

McConnell’s fight case

In an interview with the radio station WHAS, McConnell points out what he wants to concentrate on before giving up completely.

– I am particularly involved in fighting isolationism in my own party, says McConnell, according to Politico.

– And not only in my own, but also in the other party (Demokratene, journ.anm.), he adds.

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Isolationism, way of thinking that is particularly associated with American foreign policy up to the middle of the 20th century. Mainly, the isolationists could agree to isolate the USA from international participation, especially in Europe. (Large Norwegian encyclopedia)

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McConnell reiterates the importance of the US continuing to support Ukraine in the war against Russia and Vladimir Putin. He refutes the arguments of Republicans and others who have advocated ending the aid.

– We do not lose any American soldiers in the war. It is the Ukrainians who are fighting. And if Russia takes Ukraine, a NATO country will be next on the list. Then we are suddenly in the middle of it, says McConnell.

Mitch McConnell’s father fought on the ground for the United States in World War II, and the 82-year-old has said that his father always warned him about the threat from Russia. This feeling has only grown stronger, according to the senator, which has contributed to him putting a lot of effort into the work on the support package.

Also read: Filmed about Putin’s war: – The moment of truth for Europe

Cool Trump relationship

US expert Hilmar Mjelde told Dagsavisen in February that he still believes McConnell has broad support among party members in the Senate.

Former president Lyndon Johnson was known as “the master of the Senate”, and McConnell has by a long way achieved the same status, believes Mjelde, who is a professor of political science at Høgskulen på Vestlandet.

– However, McConnell’s power in the Senate has weakened in recent years, and the reason is Donald Trump, Mjelde added.

McConnell and Trump have had a cool relationship after the congressional storming in the United States on January 6, 2021. But in March, the 82-year-old nevertheless gave his formal support to Trump as the Republican presidential candidate.

Also read: Putin’s powerful adviser thunders against NATO: – A source of danger

Also read: The top Republican thunders about Ukraine chaos: – Every single argument is wrong

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Who is Mitch McConnell?

Senator Mitch McConnell resigns as leader of the Republicans in the Senate in November.

• 82 years old, born 1942 in Sheffield, Alabama
• Married 1968 to Sherrill Redmon, with whom he has three children. Married a second time in 1993 to Elaine Chao.
• College education with political science major and law degree at the University of Kentucky. Worked for a few years as a judge and assistant public prosecutor.
• Elected senator from Kentucky in 1984 and re-elected six times.
• In 2003, he was elected whip for the Republican party group.
• In 2007, he became the Republican minority leader in the Senate after the Republicans lost the majority.
• From 2015 to 2021, he was majority leader when the Republicans again had a majority.
• From 2021 until today, he is again minority leader.
• Resigns as the Republicans’ leader in November 2024, but continues as an ordinary senator until his elected term in 2027.
• Represents the traditional conservative ideology of the Republican Party, with a reduced state, low taxes, high military readiness and support for NATO.
• In recent years, he has come under increasing pressure from the Trump wing that dominates the party with nationalism and growing international isolationism.
• Has nevertheless supported Trump’s policy in the Senate, even though he rejects Trump’s claim that the election of Joe Biden was the result of electoral fraud.
• Have had some health problems in recent years. He suffered a concussion after a fall and twice last year he stopped talking.

(Source: NTB)

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Also read: Ex-general warns: – Ukraine is losing this war