Trump is furious. This member of the GOP has caused quite the mess for him.
And Donald Trump was stabbed in the back by an unhinged Republican Senator.
The America First movement, sparked by President Donald Trump’s arrival on the political stage in 2015, redefined what it means to be a Republican. It’s a battle cry for secure borders, thriving American workers, and a nation that puts its own people first. But Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is doubling down on the tired, globalist policies of the past, leaving conservatives across Kentucky and beyond outraged at his refusal to embrace the populist revolution.
In a recent sit-down with the Lexington Herald-Leader, McConnell was asked point-blank if America is stronger today than before Trump’s America First agenda took hold. His response? A spineless dodge. “You know, I’m not sure enough time has passed to start evaluating who made a difference and who didn’t,” he said, before pivoting to prop up Joe Biden’s foreign policy disasters. For a man who’s spent decades in the Senate, this refusal to acknowledge Trump’s transformative impact is nothing short of cowardice.
McConnell’s fall from grace has been a long time coming. Once the Senate Majority Leader, he was forced to step down from leadership after relentless pressure from conservatives fed up with his establishment antics. Now, relegated to the backbench, the 83-year-old senator clings to a worldview that prioritizes foreign wars and globalist agendas over the needs of hardworking Americans. His disconnect from the heartland is palpable.
The divide between McConnell and Trump is most glaring on issues like foreign policy and defense. The senator’s obsession with foreign entanglements, particularly Ukraine’s war with Russia, shows just how out of touch he’s become.
“I think this is the most dangerous period since before World War Two,” McConnell said to the Herald-Leader, invoking shaky historical comparisons to the 1930s. “There’s certain similarities right now to the ‘30s. Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill in 1930, widely believed by historians and economists to have taken the depression worldwide. Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called ‘America First.’ Sound familiar?” This cheap shot at Trump’s America First mantra is a direct insult to millions of patriots who reject endless wars.
McConnell’s crusade to funnel billions into Ukraine’s conflict, warning that “with regard to Ukraine, what we need to do is avoid the headline at the end of the war, ‘Russia wins, America loses,’” ignores the struggles of Americans facing skyrocketing costs and an open border. While families grapple with Biden’s inflation crisis, McConnell’s focused on a war half a world away—a priority that reeks of Washington elitism.
Worse still, McConnell’s ties to China raise serious red flags. Breitbart News Senior Contributor Peter Schweizer, in his bombshell book Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win, exposed how McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, and her family’s shipping empire, the Foremost Group, “built the family’s fortune by sharing a close financial relationship with China-owned companies like the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).” These connections make McConnell’s resistance to Trump’s tough-on-China stance look suspiciously self-serving.
President Trump didn’t mince words, blasting McConnell on Truth Social in 2022: Mitch McConnell “should spend more time (and money!) helping [Republican Senators] get elected, and less time helping his crazy wife and family get rich on China!” Trump’s call-out resonates with conservatives who see McConnell’s China ties as a betrayal of American workers and businesses.
In Kentucky, the backlash is fierce. Nate Morris, a rising star running to replace McConnell in the Senate, is channeling the anger of voters fed up with the senator’s globalist leanings. “Both of my opponents continue to bend the knee to the man they call their ‘mentor’ and refuse to say a word about Mitch McConnell constantly attacking President Trump and his America First foreign policy and tariffs,” Morris said in an X post. “I’m running to turn the page on Mitch and put America First.” His message is a rallying cry for a state ready to move on.
McConnell’s unpopularity in Kentucky is no secret. A July Morning Consult poll crowned him “America’s most unpopular senator for the 18th successive quarter, with a 59% disapproval rating.” His approval tanked during the final days of Trump’s first term, and it’s never recovered. Kentuckians are done with a senator who seems more at home in D.C.’s swamp than in their communities.
Shockingly, McConnell seems to be cozying up to Democrats instead of fighting for his base. In the Herald-Leader interview, he praised Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who beat McConnell’s protégé Daniel Cameron in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race.
“He’s a gifted politician, he won in a red state, and I know Chuck Schumer well enough to know that he’s probably beating the door down,” McConnell said, even suggesting Beshear run for his Senate seat. This flirtation with a potential Democratic rival is a gut punch to loyal Republicans.
The contrast between McConnell and the America First movement couldn’t be clearer. Trump’s policies brought back manufacturing, cracked down on illegal immigration, and stood up to China’s economic aggression. McConnell, meanwhile, clings to a globalist mindset that puts foreign interests and corporate profits above American workers. His refusal to embrace Trump’s legacy is a rejection of the very voters who reshaped the GOP.
As Kentucky gears up for the 2026 Senate race, candidates like Nate Morris are tapping into the frustration of a state desperate for change. Morris’s pledge to break free from McConnell’s shadow and champion America First resonates with voters tired of establishment games.
McConnell’s legacy, once defined by his grip on the Senate, is now marred by his resistance to the populist surge that’s sweeping the nation. His obsession with Ukraine and his questionable China ties stand in stark contrast to the priorities of a country demanding strong borders, fair trade, and leaders who put Americans first. Kentucky deserves a senator who fights for its people, not for foreign wars or elite interests.
The America First movement is here to stay, and so is the demand for leaders who embody its values. McConnell’s refusal to get on board isn’t just a political misstep—it’s a betrayal of Americans.
As Kentucky looks to the future, one thing is clear: the era of globalist Republicans like McConnell is over, and a new generation of America First warriors is ready to take the reins.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
