Former President Donald Trump raised the temperature of his verbal attacks on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell claiming the latter's support of "Democrat-sponsored bills" indicates he has a "death wish."
Trump declined to point to a specific piece of legislation in a post on his Truth Social media platform, though the timing of the comments comes as McConnell has voiced support for the Electoral Count Act.
The legislation is a direct response to the January 6 riot at the Capitol and Trump's attempts to overturn the election results in 2020.
"Is McConnell approving all of these Trillions of Dollars worth of Democrat-sponsored Bills, without even the slightest bit of negotiation, because he hates Donald J. Trump, and he knows I am strongly opposed to them?" Trump asked.
"Or is he doing it because he believes in the Fake and Highly Destructive Green New Deal, and is willing to take the Country down with him?
"In any event, either reason is unacceptable," concluded Trump. "He has a DEATH WISH. Must immediately seek help and advice from his China-loving wife, Coco Chow!"
Good question by President Trump. McConnell is voting for all this Democrat legislation. Or waving it through. Before midterm elections.https://t.co/4hI2QtAzCo
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) October 2, 2022
Naturally, the media ran with the "death wish" rhetoric and indicated it was a call to violence against Mitch McConnell.
The hypocrisy is rich, considering that the same media was celebrating the continued harassment of McConnell and his wife when Democrats were actively courting violence against their political opponents when Trump was in office, such as the time Congresswoman Maxine Waters openly encouraged supporters to harass Republicans in public as often and intensely as possible, to name one example.
You may recall that liberal activists left body bags outside the GOP leader's home in 2020 and he and his wife were accosted by activists in 2018.
We confronted @SenateMajLdr and @SecElaineChao with @ProPublica audio of children separated from their families at the border while leaving a @Georgetown event. We must #AbolishICE & #AbolishCBP! #FreedomforImmigrants pic.twitter.com/ljv70F3F0L
— Roberto (@RobertoChicanX) June 26, 2018
Now, outlets like the Wall Street Journal are concerned that Trump's "reckless" rhetoric "courts potential violence."
I would argue that Trump is not being literal with his comments but rather, speaking about a figurative career and political ‘death wish.'
Trump has consistently been calling on McConnell to be removed from his leadership role "immediately," saying he is little more than "a pawn for the Democrats."
TRUMP: "Democrats have Mitch McConnell and his lovely wife, Elaine 'Coco' Chao, over a barrel. [They] will never be prosecuted as long as he continues to give the radical left the trillions and trillions of dollars that they demand." https://t.co/ViQCNxEzVF pic.twitter.com/AB9ufojoQ7
— Newsmax (@newsmax) August 25, 2022
Trump and McConnell have been feuding for what seems like forever, well before the "death wish" post.
Just last month, as reported by The Political Insider, Trump took to social media to blast McConnell as a "broken down hack politician" and even made remarks about his "crazy wife."
Earlier in September, Trump described Mitch as an "absolute loser" who has been giving Democrats "everything they want."
Trump has pressed the GOP to oust McConnell, whom he describes as a "Broken Old Crow," from leadership.
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday called for an end to Republican Mitch McConnell's term as Senate Minority Leader because "the Old Crow" is "giving the Democrats victory on everything." https://t.co/qVrZFFCkTD pic.twitter.com/qN8VDmL47r
— Newsmax (@newsmax) December 14, 2021
Reports have surfaced of late indicating McConnell was considering a vote to convict Donald Trump in the impeachment trial over his alleged role in the Capitol riot and said he was "done with" the "crazy" former President over the incident.
To that end, the Kentucky Republican also expressed his excitement that Trump had a political ‘death wish' of his own.
A recently published book alleges Mitch McConnell admitted he was "exhilarated" that Trump had "totally discredited himself" over the Capitol riot.
He also took joy that Trump seemingly had ‘committed political suicide' at the time.
These McConnell quotes on Trump, hours after the Jan. 6 attack 👀 https://t.co/VtbrbcQ1HM pic.twitter.com/Z3DxkBWH60
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 25, 2022
"I feel exhilarated by the fact that this fellow finally, totally discredited himself," McConnell reportedly said. "He put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Couldn't have happened at a better time."
I don't recall the Wall Street Journal or the media at large going apoplectic over McConnell's remarks.