Sen. Mitch McConnell doubts efforts to require disclosures for political ads.

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cast doubt Saturday about the idea of enacting laws requiring disclosures for political ads on Facebook and Twitter.

“I’m a little skeptical of these disclosure-type proposals that are floating around, which strikes me would mostly penalize American citizens trying to use the internet and to advertise,” the Kentucky Republican said in an interview on MSNBC.

McConnell is known for his expansive view of the First Amendment when it comes to protecting political speech, including campaign contributions and advertising.

Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Mark Warner of Virginia joined Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in introducing the Honest Ads Act last month that would impose new disclosure requirements.

Technology companies were on Capitol Hill for oversight hearings this past week, explaining that hundreds of millions of people were exposed to Russian-directed political advertising and content about the 2016 elections.

That McConnell and McCain could be on opposite sides of a political spending question should come as no surprise, given their long history of diverging views on the topic.

McConnell also signaled that Russians should not be able to have the free speech protections to which Americans are entitled by the Constitution.

“In any event, the First Amendment shouldn’t apply to foreigners,” McConnell said.