McConnell Takes Issue With Trump On Govt Shutdown: ‘Always A Bad Idea’
As the federal government faces an imminent shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has voiced his disagreement with former President Donald Trump’s call to close the government unless the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act is included in a spending bill.
“A government shutdown is always a bad idea — at any time,” McConnell stated in response to Trump’s demands. Trump has pushed for the inclusion of the SAVE Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship to register for federal elections, in a stopgap funding bill. The act has become a point of contention, particularly among Republicans in the Senate.
McConnell emphasized that before deciding on the Senate’s next move, it’s essential to see what the House of Representatives sends over. “The first step ought to be what comes out of the House,” McConnell added, suggesting that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would play a key role in how the bill progresses.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has proposed a continuing resolution that extends government funding into March, attaching the SAVE Act to the bill. Despite opposition within the Republican conference, Johnson is pressing forward. With all members voting, Johnson can afford to lose no more than four GOP votes.
Trump, however, has doubled down on his call for Republicans to stand firm on the SAVE Act. He wrote on social media: “If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET... CLOSE IT DOWN!!!”
While some Senate Republicans back Johnson’s proposal, others, like Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), prefer a shorter stopgap measure that expires in December. Collins expressed concern that extending government funding into March could burden the next president’s first 100 days in office.
McConnell, who has recently made headlines by pledging to stay in the Senate despite stepping down as party leader, has been vocal in his opposition to the isolationist movement within the Republican Party. He remains committed to supporting foreign allies, especially Ukraine, in its conflict with Russia.
During a radio interview, McConnell reiterated his belief that helping Ukraine is crucial to maintaining global stability. “We’re not losing any of our troops, the Ukrainians are the ones doing the fighting,” McConnell said, warning that if Russia takes Ukraine, it could embolden them to target NATO countries next.
Several GOP senators, however, are looking ahead to a post-McConnell leadership era, expressing frustration with his approach and hoping for more collaborative leadership. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), and potentially Rick Scott (R-Fla.) are among the possible candidates to replace McConnell as Senate GOP leader in the future.
As discussions continue, Republicans in the Senate are divided not only on the future of party leadership but also on critical legislative issues like the SAVE Act and government shutdown, which could shape the political landscape as the 2024 election approaches.