House Freedom Caucus mocks Mitch McConnell after his leadership departure announcement
WASHINGTON — The House Freedom Caucus, a group of the House’s most conservative lawmakers, mocked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., after he announced Wednesday he will step down from his leadership post in November.
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader, has drawn the ire of the caucus for supporting military aid to Ukraine. In the past month, he helped deliver enough GOP votes to pass a massive aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other foreign allies – though that legislation is currently stuck in the House.
“Our thoughts are with our Democrat colleagues in the Senate on the retirement of their Co-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ukraine),” the House Freedom Caucus posted on X, formerly Twitter. "No need to wait till November… Senate Republicans should IMMEDIATELY elect a *Republican* Minority Leader.”
Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., chair of the House Freedom Caucus, suggested in a tweet that Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., would make a great fit for the minority leadership role. Scott challenged McConnell in 2022 for the position, but was defeated.
"Mitch McConnell stepping down provides a great opportunity for true conservative leadership in the Senate. @SenRickScott would make a great Republican leader,” Good wrote on X.
Scott said in a statement that he has been “very clear” there needs to be new leadership in the Senate, saying this "is an opportunity to refocus our efforts on solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters."
Contributing: Marina Pitofsky, Riley Beggin, Rachel Looker