McConnell Says Trump 'Highly Unlikely' To Become President Following Dinner With White Supremacist
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested Tuesday that former President Trump's recent dinner with noted white supremacist Nick Fuentes and inflammatory rapper Kanye West makes it "highly unlikely" he regains the presidency.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McConnell first shared his thoughts on the extreme views that both Fuentes and West have shared in the past.
"First, let me just say that there is no room in the Republican Party for antisemitism or white supremacy," McConnell, a Republican serving Kentucky, said Tuesday.
"Anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States," McConnell added.
The Anti-Defamation League describes Fuentes as "a white supremacist leader and organizer and podcaster who seeks to forge a white nationalist alternative to the mainstream GOP," while rapper Kanye West, who is now known as Ye, has made headlines for his recent antisemitic brigade, costing him multiple lucrative fashion deals.
McConnell's decision to speak out against the former president is surprising for many reasons, most notably the fact that he previously said he would support Trump should he win the nomination in 2024 — a commitment he was not eager to reiterate following the explosive meeting.
When asked directly if he would still support Trump in 2024, McConnell dodged the question, instead repeating his statement about there being no room in the party for antisemitism or white supremacy.
"And that would apply to all of the leaders in the party who will be seeking offices," McConnell said.
Earlier this month, Trump announced his intentions to run for the presidency in 2024 to the ire of many top Republicans. Trump has said he was unaware of the reputation Fuentes has, but has yet to denounce him.
The former president and Kanye West have met multiple times in the past, and reports say the troubled rapper was meeting with Trump to seek advice for his own 2024 presidential run.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.