Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a shot at former President Donald Trump during a press conference Tuesday, saying anyone who thinks the Constitution could be suspended would have trouble executing the office of president.
“What I’m saying is that it would be pretty hard to be sworn in to the presidency if you’re not willing to uphold the Constitution,” McConnell said in response to a question about supporting Trump if he succeeds in becoming the Republican nominee for president in 2024.
On Saturday, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the “Massive Fraud” he claims took place in the 2020 election justifies violating the U.S. Constitution.
The presidential oath of office includes a pledge to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
“So, with the revelation of MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION in working closely with Big Tech Companies, the DNC, & the Democratic Party, do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION?,” Trump posted. (RELATED: McConnell Takes Jab At Trump, Says It’s ‘Highly Unlikely’ He’ll Be Elected Again)
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!” he added. (RELATED: ‘Old Crow Mitch McConnell’ — Trump Tears Into McConnell Over Infrastructure Bill)
WATCH:
McConnell: “Anyone seeking the presidency who thinks the constitution could somehow be suspended or not followed seems to me would have a very hard time being sworn in as president” pic.twitter.com/89nFmMh3fi
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 6, 2022
Other Republican Senators have criticized Trump over his remarks on the Constitution, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn and South Dakota Sen. John Thune.
“I’m at a loss for words. We need to move on,” Cornyn told Politico. He also said Trump’s nomination is “increasingly less likely, given statements like that.”
“It’s just one of those intuitively obvious things, whether a candidate for office has sort of a bedrock principle, ‘Are you going to support the Constitution?'” Thune said. “For him, it’s not all that unusual. But it will be the grist and plenty of fodder for those that are looking to get into that race.”
