President Trump called out Mitch McConnell after the Republican Senate Majority Leader congratulated Joe Biden for winning the presidential election.
McConnell on Tuesday acknowledged Biden as the winner of the 2020 election for the first time, declaring that “the Electoral College has spoken.”
“Yesterday, electors met in all 50 states, so, as of this morning, our country has officially a president-elect and a vice president-elect,” McConnell said.
“So, today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” he added.
.@SenateMajLdr Mitch McConnell: “Yesterday electors met in all 50 states, so, as of this morning, our country has officially a President-elect and a Vice President-elect…
The Electoral College has spoken.
So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.” pic.twitter.com/EovreqWLhW
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 15, 2020
Trump Fires Back at Mitch McConnell: People Are Angry!
McConnell also reportedly suggested that his fellow Republicans accept the defeat.
“There was encouragement on the phone for us to accept the result — as much as it’s not what we … would have envisioned for the next four years,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito told reporters, “and to try to do what’s best for American people, which is to look forward.”
The result of a vote challenge would be “terrible” for Republicans, McConnell said, as the GOP would “have to vote it down” which would make them appear to oppose the President.
?NEW On a Senate R call just now, @senatemajldr, @RoyBlunt & @SenJohnThune all pleaded with Senate Rs to NOT object to the election results Jan. 6.
MCCONNEL: it’s a “terrible vote” for the GOP. They’d have to vote it down, which makes it seem like they are anti Trump, he said
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 15, 2020
Trump fired back in sharing an article that referenced Mitch McConnell’s congratulatory speech to Biden.
“Mitch, 75,000,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting President (by a lot),” the President tweeted.
“Too soon to give up. Republican Party must finally learn to fight,” added Trump. “People are angry!”
Trump’s allies slam Mitch McConnell for congratulating Biden https://t.co/ak9nu6420L via @MailOnline. Mitch, 75,000,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting President (by a lot). Too soon to give up. Republican Party must finally learn to fight. People are angry!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2020
RELATED: Trump Threatens To Veto Defense Bill Over Section 230, But House May Have Veto-Proof Majority
Suspect Moves By McConnell And Republicans
McConnell landed in some hot water with conservatives after outlets resurfaced a 2019 report (also covered by The Political Insider) which showed the Kentucky Republican received thousands of dollars in donations from lobbyists for two of the largest electronic voting machine vendors in the United States – including Dominion Voting Systems.
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The report showcased how McConnell had been “out of balance” with other Republicans in shooting down a number of election security bills, which may have proven pivotal in this contested election year.
Yikes… has this influenced McConnell’s apparent reluctance to look into voter/election fraud issues — to brush it all aside and “move on”?! https://t.co/XJRHslVQlI
— Deborah R. Castleman (@Deborahcastleman on Parler) (@DRCastleman) December 16, 2020
In other news, Georgia Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, currently embroiled in a difficult runoff election for control of the Senate, went against the President in voting for a defense bill that the President vowed to veto.
The NDAA vote forced Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and passing a measure many in their ranks considered more important than politics. https://t.co/co5Lv8r0ao
— Roll Call (@rollcall) December 11, 2020
Loeffler and Perdue will need President Trump’s support in order to win their respective races.
Trump reiterated that he would veto the bill as he has demanded a stronger effort which includes provisions ending Section 230, allows for troop withdrawals, and preserves the names and existence of monuments and memorials.
“I will veto the Defense Bill, which will make China very unhappy. They love it,” he tweeted.