Report: Trump will blame Mitch McConnell if GOP loses midterm election

Thomas Novelly | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Nine points Trump hit on in Richmond rally President Trump's hour long speech boiled down to nine highlights

President Donald Trump may be ready to throw Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell under the bus if the GOP loses control of the Senate in November.

Politico reported that Trump has said in private conversations that he'll blame the Kentucky Republican and House Speaker Paul Ryan if a blue wave takes over Congress.

“These are their elections ... and if they screw it up, it’s not my fault," Trump told sources, according to Politico. He also said the midterms won't be a reflection on him and that "the real election would be in 2020."

A spokesman for McConnell said the senator doesn't have a comment.

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The tone conveyed by Politico's sources is vastly different from the confidence Trump has shown in public. Last week in Richmond, Kentucky, Trump backed U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who faces a tough re-election against Democratic challenger Amy McGrath.

"Under Republican leadership, America is booming, it’s thriving. America is winning again because we are finally putting America first," Trump said at the rally. "... We need some more Republicans, we need some votes."

Trump also praised McConnell during the rally, highlighting McConnell's rapid appointment of conservative-minded justices.

“There’s nobody tougher,” Trump said at the rally. “He’s a tough cookie ... he’s Kentucky tough … He got us a man who will be one of our great Supreme Court justices."

Thomas Novelly: tnovelly@courierjournal.com, 502-582-4465. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/tomn.

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