In a show of force, both President Trump and Mitch McConnell stood before reporters today to report that their relationship is ‘outstanding’, just as it always has been, and their agenda is the same:
"My relationship with this gentleman is outstanding," Pres. Trump says of Mitch McConnell. "We are working very hard to get the tax cuts." pic.twitter.com/drF5dQn9Vj
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 16, 2017
Mitch McConnell on his relationship with President Trump: “We have the same agenda” https://t.co/UNokSWFfVA https://t.co/A3lVG2Ykri
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 16, 2017
Later in the presser Trump was asked about Steve Bannon’s war on Republican incumbents:
POTUS on Bannon opposition to GOP lawmakers: "Some of the people that he may be looking at, I'm going to see if we can talk him out of that" pic.twitter.com/NA30yLJpMR
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) October 16, 2017
“Steve is doing what Steve thinks is the right thing…”
Mitch then weighed in:
JUST IN: Sen. McConnell fires back at Bannon: "Winners make policy, and losers go home." https://t.co/Aqx9qO2WkK
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) October 16, 2017
Amanda Carpenter, who worked for Ted Cruz before he ran for president, had something to say about McConnell’s response:
McConnell reminds press — and Trump — of 2010 losses w/ Angle, O'Donnell, says GOP needs to "nominate people who can actually win."
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) October 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/919987740451790849
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/919988115485454336
She’s absolutely right, McConnell’s argument here is a strawman. McConnell only wants moderate Republicans who will support his vision and he almost always fights against solid conservative candidates, just like he and Trump fought against Roy Moore.
The press conference is still ongoing so there may be more for me to post on this later. Stay tuned!