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Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the “America First” slogan, claiming it is reminiscent of rhetoric used in the 1930s before World War II.
“We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War Two,” McConnell told The Financial Times. “Even the slogan is the same: ‘America First.’ That was what they said in the ’30s.” He added, “The cost of deterrence is considerably less than the cost of war.”
McConnell rejected the isolationist sentiments often associated with the slogan, arguing that such an approach is ineffective in a world fraught with global dangers. “To most American voters, I think the simple answer is, ‘Let’s stay out of it.’ That was the argument made in the ’30s and that just won’t work,” McConnell said. “Thanks to Reagan, we know what does work — not just saying peace through strength, but demonstrating it.”
He also voiced opposition to Donald Trump’s perspective that America’s primary enemies are internal rather than nations like Russia and China.
Despite his criticism, McConnell confirmed he voted for Trump and other Republican candidates in the last election but refused to mention the former president by name. “I supported the ticket,” he said. “The election’s over, and we’re moving on.”
McConnell has not held back in expressing disapproval of Trump’s conduct, particularly in light of the January 6 Capitol riot, which he described as “appalling.” In the past, McConnell has referred to Trump as a “despicable human being” and has reportedly criticized his behavior after the 2020 election.
“They’ve had just enough of the misrepresentations, the outright lies almost on a daily basis, and they fired him,” McConnell was quoted as saying of Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. “And for a narcissist like him, that’s been really hard to take, and so his behavior since the election has been even worse, by far, than it was before, because he has no filter now at all.”
McConnell, who is 82, has faced calls for resignation and term limits after being seen in a wheelchair earlier this week following a fall during a GOP luncheon. The incident has reignited discussions about his fitness for leadership and the broader issue of term limits for members of Congress.
