Mitch McConnell got testy with Axios reporter Jonathan Swan during a live sit-down interview yesterday that got real awkward real fast.
Things started out friendly-ish with Swan asking McConnell, who has served in the Senate since 1985, about his “ruthless style of politics.”
“I didn’t realize I was known for playing ruthless,” he joked. “My wife thinks I’m a really nice guy. My kids like me. I got a lot of friends. I’m shocked to hear such a comment.”
McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, served as Donald Trump‘s transportation secretary from 2017 to 2021. In March 2021, the Department of Transportation’s inspector general released a report that alleged she committed four kinds of ethics violations during her tenure, including using her staff and her position of power to call in personal favors.
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McConnell’s remarks initially drew chuckles from the audience, but the interview took a far less jovial turn moments later when Swan teased him about how he could only list four people who actually liked him and then questioned his “moral red lines.”
“I’m perfectly comfortable with the way that I have conducted my political career,” McConnell, growing increasingly more serious, said. “I’m very comfortable with my moral red line.”
Swan then pressed McConnell on how he could go from publicly condemning Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol to, two weeks later, saying he would support him if he ran for president again.
Related: Literally everyone hates “dour, sullen, unsmiling political hack” Mitch McConnell right now
“How do you go from saying that, to two weeks later, saying you’d absolutely support Donald Trump if he’s the Republican leader in 2024?” Swan asked.
And that’s when things got really tense.
McConnell, no longer in a joking mood, replied with a canned response about having an “obligation” to his party no matter who they nominate. When Swan pushed back on this by asking if there was “any threshold” that would cause him to draw the line, McConnell grew even more cantankerous and tried to shut down the conversation by saying, “I say many things I’m sure people don’t understand.”
Watch.
.@jonathanvswan asks Mitch McConnell where he draws his moral redlines pic.twitter.com/is7WZqSuhx
— Axios (@axios) April 7, 2022
Now, check out how people are responding to the whole exchange…
A reminder that Mitch blamed Trump for inciting a riot that led to multiple deaths & almost got members of Congress killed. And then said he’d be ok putting Trump back in office.
Forget country over party, Mitch can’t even be bothered to put his own personal safety over party.
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 8, 2022
It’s party over country for this guy every damn day.
— Erin 🇺🇦 🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@doopergirl) April 7, 2022
I have rarely called anyone evil. But no other adjective seems to suit him.
— I feel better now that I have given up. (@ea_murr) April 8, 2022
This is literally how every reporter should handle interviews. Every single time. Be fair but push back. Ask the question again, dig deep.
Kudos as always to @jonathanvswan!
— M L C (@ChiCyph80) April 7, 2022
What really happened @LeaderMcConnell ? pic.twitter.com/jZbv8bYqAb
— 3rdCrow (@DominaCorax) April 7, 2022
SWAN: Senator, where is the moral bottom for you? What would be a bridge too far?
McCONNELL: I don’t know. Am I supposed to have a moral bottom? Is there such a thing as a bridge too far?— Clarence Jackson (@SeeJaxon) April 8, 2022
He is as immoral as they come
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) April 7, 2022
There seems to be a disconnect in the general statement, “I am the leader of my party so I have to back my party.” At what point does the “leader” part start to express itself?
— Gelatinous Blob (@BlobGelatinous) April 8, 2022
it’s refreshing to see a member of the press asking tough questions,it needs to happen more
— jeff (@jeff26028069) April 8, 2022
— bibliojoan 😷💉📚📖🌎🇺🇦🌻 (@bibliojoan) April 7, 2022
Related: Mitch McConnell momentarily shows his true colors in viral clip he’d surely like to delete
white-queer-african
Shocking!. Shocking.! Shocking!
This man has no morals / scruples!
He is way overdue for the Grim Reaper’s visit. Not that I wish death upon anyone!.
Then again…..
Thad
Does Kentucky know about this? They should
James
McConnell is nothing but a smooth talking nazi.
Fahd
No politician has done more damage to American democracy in the last decades than McConnell. He has used every dirty trick in the book to bring the legislature to gridlock; one can count the number of useful laws passed during his “leadership” with the fingers of one hand. And I haven’t even mentioned the Supreme Court appointment he stole from a Democratic president, elected not only by the electoral college but also by the popular vote. Moscow Mitch has been and continues to be a soulless abuser of power, someone the founding fathers warned people about.
As for his wife, anyone involved in any important work in D.C. and suburbs has encountered her ongoing, sometimes successful, efforts to trade on her association with her husband, the Republican party, etc. – she is at least as soulless and also capable of shameless corruption.
Mr. Stadnick
His wife likes him? Of course she does, she’s an evil bitch. He is truly the most untrustworthy member of the senate and perhaps the government.
Fname Optional Lname
If you’re only objective in politics is too discredit the opposite party every waking moment and oppose any and everything that they put on the table you are no longer a politician and are certainly not working for the people. He should have been out long ago but he (and many other republicans) learned the division and fear will keep the money rolling in. He is a boil on the ass of humanity
CNY1983
Does anyone else think hes got black stockings and garters on under that suit and that his wife wears a strap on to bed?
white-queer-african
Lol. Lol. Lol. The mere thought of it made me choke on my breakfast.
Not a pretty sight!
Herman75
Not that there’s anything wrong with that :-),
though he was separated from military service for never to be divulged reasons. Was his nickname “handsy” or am I making that up in my head?
dario717
This is not particularly surprising, but what on earth is wrong with the 25% of LGBTQ+ people who vote for his ethnic faction?
Jim
An obligation to your party? To your party”
What about the nation?
sanfranca1
Exactly!
Jaquelope
Isn’t Axios a Conservative outlet? If so, it’s strange they’d ask such questions because that seems to be against, or counter-productive, to their agenda.
johncp56
Scummy sticky Creep,, look what his wife did, Wow I want a job I can lie cheat get paid, and not get fired from!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Scummy sticky creeps!!!!!!!!!
TomG
“McConnell, no longer in a joking mood, replied with a canned response about having an “obligation” to his party no matter who they nominate.” I thought he was supposed to have an obligation TO THE COUNTRY and NOT Trump or the GOP.