Oldest person at 82 years old… The antithesis of ‘isolationism’
Those mentioned as successors “support Trump”
Biden, the same age, is likely to raise old age risks
“America’s global leadership is needed more than ever.”
Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving leader in U.S. Senate history, resigned from his position in November and announced that he would not run in the next leadership election. He is a figure who symbolizes the orthodox conservative Republican Party and is at the ideological opposite of former President Donald Trump, who emphasizes ‘isolationism’. If McConnell resigns and a pro-Trump figure becomes the new floor leader, the Republican Party’s ‘America First’ stance is expected to strengthen.
On the 28th of last month, Representative McConnell announced his intention to resign, citing former President Ronald Reagan’s ‘shining city on a hill’, which is respected by the mainstream Republican Party. Former President Reagan enjoyed using this expression, saying that the United States should serve as a ‘beacon of hope’ to the world. It is interpreted as an attempt to criticize former President Trump, who threatened to encourage a Russian invasion of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies that do not pay more for defense.
Representative McConnell strongly criticized former President Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election and Trump supporters’ invasion of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. After the Ukraine war broke out, he came into conflict with pro-Trump lawmakers who argued, “Let’s reduce the support budget for Ukraine and use it to deal with illegal immigration from Central and South America.” On this day, he also took aim at Trump’s side, saying, “I will not conflict over the irreplaceable role played by the United States as the leader of the free world.”
With his resignation, former President Trump’s control over the Republican Party and Congress is expected to become stronger. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who is third in the hierarchy of power in the United States, and Senator Tim Scott, who is mentioned as a successor to Leader McConnell, all declared ‘support for Trump’ in the Republican presidential primary. Representative Matt Gaetz, another pro-Trump figure, said when news of McConnell’s resignation became known, “The future of the Republican Party will be better.”
Representative McConnell, born in 1942, suffered from polio as a child. He is a former lawyer, served as Assistant Secretary of Justice, entered the Senate in 1985, and has served as the leader of the Republican Party for 17 years since 2007. His second wife, whom he married in 1993, is former Transportation Minister Elaine Chao, who is of Taiwanese descent.
Representative McConnell was hospitalized after falling in March of last year, and during two press conferences, he suddenly stopped talking and appeared dazed for dozens of seconds, raising speculations about his health. With his resignation, there is a possibility that the ‘senior risk’ of President Joe Biden, his peer, will be raised again. President Biden, who underwent a medical examination on the same day, announced that he was judged to be a ‘healthy and active man suitable to perform the duties of President.’
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.