Minority Leader McConnell will be handing over his Senate leadership reins to a new Republican majority leader. Speaking with press, McConnell sidestepped questions about his criticisms of President-Elect Donald Trump or suggestions that Trump could appoint Elon Musk or RFK, Jr. to his administration.
"I'm here this morning to talk about the election. And I think I'm going to largely confine it to that," he responded.
The senator has been a staunch advocate of aid to democratic allies — most notably Ukraine — a position that mean clashes with a second Trump administration. McConnell said he intends to continue pressing for that aid as he steps back from leadership.
"It's a lot cheaper to prevent war than it is to have one, and so that's the focus I'm going to have for the next couple of years," McConnell told reporters.
Though cagey about predictions, the senator said, under a Republican Senate, the filibuster is "very secure," tensions with the Supreme Court will cool, and there will be no admission of new states or changes to the high court.
One big unanswered question: What role will Trump play in the choice of McConnell's successor?
