Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell mentioned Sunday that he "likes" President Joe Biden "personally" regardless of their many disagreements on nationwide and worldwide coverage.
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the highest GOP lawmaker within the Senate, has readily criticized the Biden administration all through the president's tenure within the White Home. Nonetheless, he has additionally proven a willingness to work with the president in a bipartisan means once they can discover widespread floor. The GOP senator beforehand wrote in his 2016 memoir that he had a constructive relationship with Biden, who beforehand served within the Senate and as vp.
"Yeah, I just like the president personally," McConnell instructed Fox Information Sunday. The comment got here after the host requested him about Biden's low favorability amongst voters, based on latest polling knowledge. "It is fairly clear to me that character is, in my opinion, not what's driving his unpopularity. I believe it is the insurance policies they have been pursuing."
Earlier within the interview, McConnell laid out his criticism of Biden and his administration on points starting from overseas coverage, to the southern border and immigration in addition to inflation and excessive power prices. He mentioned that Republicans would tack these points and guarantee Biden ruled like a reasonable shifting ahead in the event that they win again management of Congresswithin the 2022 midterms.
"Biden ran as a reasonable. If I am the bulk chief within the Senate and Kevin McCarthy is the speaker of the Home, we'll make sure that Joe Biden is a reasonable," he asserted.
Newsweek reached out to the White Home for remark.
When Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took workplace on January 20, 2021, McConnell spoke favorably of each of the distinguished Democrats. He even made cordial remarks throughout a particular present ceremony after the president and vp had been sworn in.
"I've to make one level of non-public privilege on behalf of the Senate, with all due respect to our distinguished speaker [of the House, Nancy Pelosi] and our colleagues from the Home. I've to notice, not solely did we simply swear in a son and daughter of the Senate to those excessive workplaces, however certainly each these former senators skipped the Home altogether," McConnell mentioned, drawing laughter from the small crowd.
The highest Senate Republican emphasised that Harris was the "very first feminine vp of america" and referred to her as "our very distinguished former colleague."
Biden was first-elected to the Senate in 1972, taking workplace in January 1973. The Delaware Democrat went on to serve within the higher chamber of Congress till 2009, when he turned vp below President Barack Obama. Biden served alongside lots of the present members of the Senate throughout his many years within the legislative physique. McConnell was first elected to the Senate in 1985.
McConnell and Biden have reportedly lengthy had a constructive working relationship. In his 2016 memoir, McConnell wrote fondly of Biden. "Not solely did I like Joe, however I additionally discovered that he did not solely discuss; he additionally listened. He was, due to this fact, somebody I might work with," the distinguished GOP lawmaker wrote.
The highest Senate Republican reportedly most popular to work with Biden on legislative points throughout Obama's tenure as president. In early February, Biden described McConnell as a "buddy" throughout remarks on the Nationwide Prayer Breakfast.
"Mitch, I do not need to harm your popularity, however we actually are pals. And that isn't an epiphany we're having right here in the mean time. We have at all times — you've got at all times accomplished precisely what you've got mentioned. You are a person of phrase—of your phrase, and also you're a person of honor," the president mentioned. "Thanks for being my buddy."
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