Trump attacks Pence and McConnell
Ex-president’s speech at Republican summit highlights divide over his influence in party.
PALM BEACH, Fla. — It was supposed to be a unifying weekend for a Republican Party at war with itself over former President Trump’s divisive leadership. But Trump himself shattered two days of relative peace in his closing remarks to the GOP’s top donors when he insulted the party’s Senate leader and his wife.
Ahead of the invitationonly speech at Trump’s new home inside his Mar-a-Lago resort, the former president’s advisors said he would emphasize his commitment to his party and Republican unity.
Trump veered from prepared remarks Saturday night and slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as a “stonecold loser” and mocked McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who was Trump’s Transportation secretary. Trump also said he was “disappointed” in his vice president, Mike Pence, and used a profanity in assessing McConnell, according to people who were not authorized to discuss what was said in a private session. Trump said McConnell had not thanked him properly for putting Chao in his Cabinet.
McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
Trump’s words left some attendees feeling uncomfortable. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did not defend Trump as he left Palm Beach on Sunday.
“We are much better off if we keep focusing on the Democrats. Period,” Gingrich said.
Saturday’s speech was the final address of the Republican National Committee’s weekend donor summit in Palm Beach. Most of the RNC’s closed-door gathering was held at a hotel a few miles from Mar-a-Lago.
While a significant faction of the Republican Party hopes to move past Trump’s divisive leadership, the location of the event — and the former president’s prominent speaking slot — suggests that the GOP, at least for now, is not ready to replace Trump as its undisputed leader and chief fundraiser.
The new tension between Trump and establishment minded Republican leaders comes as GOP officials are trying to play down an internal feud over his role in the party, his commitment to Republican fundraising and his plans for 2024.
Trump is also continuing to insist that the last election was “stolen” from him, repeating false claims that Joe Biden won the election only because of voter fraud.
Such claims ultimately fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
McConnell and Chao have been particularly critical of Trump’s role in encouraging the insurrection; Chao resigned her post in protest. Pence presided over a congressional session that certified Biden’s election victory over Trump.
Rep. Liz Cheney (RWyo.) was among 10 House Republicans who joined every Democrat in voting to impeach Trump for inspiring the Jan. 6 attack. Seven Republican senators later voted to convict Trump, even after he had left office.
“The former president is using the same language that he knows provoked violence on Jan 6. As a party, we need to be focused on the future. We need to be focused on embracing the Constitution, not embracing insurrection,” Cheney told CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Trump and his allies have promised to fuel primary challenges against Cheney and other Republicans who supported his impeachment.
GOP officials saw Trump’s weekend participation as a sign that he is willing to lend his name to the party. At the same time, he continues to aggressively accumulate campaign cash to fuel his political ambitions.
Trump has amassed roughly $85 million so far, a small fortune that rivals the RNC’s bank account. He has teased the prospect of another presidential run in 2024 but has also positioned himself to play the role of kingmaker for Republicans who may run if he does not.
The weekend gathering featured Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, among other early 2024 GOP prospects.
In his remarks Friday night, Cotton leaned into the GOP’s culture wars, attacking the Democrats’ positions on transgender youth, voter ID laws and Major League Baseball’s decision to move its All-Star Game to protest Republican voting laws.
DeSantis, who spoke before Trump on Saturday night, seized on corporations and business leaders who have begun joining the Democrats’ fight against GOP-backed voting legislation moving through state legislatures across the country, including in Florida.
Critics and voting experts suggest the new laws would make it more difficult for Black Americans and Latinos to cast ballots.