McConnell To Trump: ‘Stick To The Script’

McConnell To Trump: ‘Stick To The Script’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says that while Donald Trump should “stick to the script,” he remains comfortable backing the presumptive Republican nominee.

In an atypically candid interview with Bloomberg’s “Masters in Politics” podcast, McConnell expressed caution over Trump’s racist comments towards Judge Gonzalo Curiel but maintained that a President Trump would need to answer to the center-right voters necessary to win the presidency.  

“It’s pretty obvious he doesn’t know a lot about the issues,” McConnell said. “You see that in the debates in which he’s participated. It’s why I have argued to him publicly and privately that he ought to use a script more often—there is nothing wrong with having prepared texts.”

Both literally and metaphorically, he said that Trump — a vocal critic of teleprompters — should begin using pre-written speeches as a way to avoid blunders like his comments on Curiel, which will alienate the minority voters that the GOP must focus on.

“I think he’d have a much better chance of winning if he would quit making so many unfortunate public utterances and stick to the script,” McConnell said.

He later added that during a meeting at the National Rifle Association convention, McConnell told Trump that this more reserved tactic “indicates a level of seriousness that I think is important to convey to American people about the job you are seeking.”

McConnell, who is known for being tight-lipped on candidates and controversy alike, said that Trump needs to change his approach to the campaign and pick a running-mate who is well-versed in policy.

“Now you need to demonstrate you have the seriousness of purpose that is required to be president of the United States, and most candidates on frequent occasions use a script,” McConnell said he told Trump.

At a time when many conservatives have questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s candidacy, McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, seems like he might be a worthy judge for right-wingers unsure of how to feel on Trump.

“I’m not going to speculate about what he might say, or what I might do. But I think it’s pretty clear and I’ve been pretty clear publicly about how I think he ought to change direction and I hope that’s what we are going to see.”

Listen to the full podcast here.

Photo: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) arrives to talks to the media after a weekly Senate Republican luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 19, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas 

Start your day with National Memo Newsletter

Know first.

The opinions that matter. Delivered to your inbox every morning

President Biden Signs Spending Bill To Avert Shutdown, Urges Ukraine Aid
President Joe Biden with First Lady Jill Biden as he signs gun and school safety legislation

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a $1.2 trillion spending package, keeping the U.S. government funded through a fiscal year that began six months ago.Biden described the package, which Congress overwhelmingly passed in the early hours of Saturday, as investing in Americans as well as strengthening the economy and national security. The Democratic president urged Congress to pass other bills stuck in the legislative chambers.

Keep reading...Show less
January 6 riot

Police munitions explode as Trump supporters riot at US Capitol on January 6, 2021

Photo by Leah Millis/REUTERS

It may come as a surprise to hear that I actually agree with Donald Trump on something: America does have a two-tiered system of justice. In fact, you could say I beat him to it since I reached that conclusion long before the former president adopted it as his mantra.

Keep reading...Show less
{{ post.roar_specific_data.api_data.analytics }}