Tensions are rising between President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as the two have now gone weeks without speaking to each other, according to a recent report.
Heated phone calls and aggressive meetings that were once private have devolved into “open conflict,” The New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing more than a dozen people involved in the relationship between the two. Over the past two weeks, Trump has concluded a multiweek “working” vacation, which was largely spent at his golfing resort in New Jersey. Meanwhile, members of Congress had left Washington, D.C., for the August recess.
McConnell reportedly lacks faith that Trump will be able to recover following months of conflict and questions weighing down on his administration.
A phone call between the two reportedly took place a couple of weeks ago before they got into a public tussle over the repeal of Obamacare.
McConnell had complained about artificial deadlines, lamenting “excessive expectations.” After those comments grabbed headlines, Trump expressed his disappointment with the Republican leader over the phone and urged McConnell to continue efforts to pass healthcare reform legislation.
The president then publicly criticized McConnell on Twitter recently for not coming through on a “repeal & replace” for Obamacare.
Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn’t get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2017
Refusing to pick sides, transportation secretary and wife to McConnell Elaine Chao told reporters last week at Trump Tower that she stands by her man, “both of them.”
McConnell expressed disapproval of the president’s remarks regarding the violent rally in Charlottesville, Va., last week, telling several advisers to Trump who resigned that he understood their decision, according to the Times report.
Though neither Trump nor McConnell commented to the Times, Don Stewart, a spokesman for McConnell, did say the two GOP leaders have “shared goals” on issues including “tax reform, infrastructure, funding the government, not defaulting on the debt, passing the defense authorization bill.”
