Mitch McConnell Suggests Trump Will Have Plenty Of GOP Competition In 2024

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday the party will have a crowded field of candidates running for president in 2024.

Asked how he would respond to former President Donald Trump potentially launching another run, McConnell gave a broad assessment of what he expects the primary race to look like.

I think were going to have a crowded field for president, he said, without referring to Trump. I assume that most of that will unfold later and people will be picking their candidates during a crowded primary field.

Q: \"If Donald Trump launches another run for president how will you handle that? Will you oppose his candidacy? Will you stay neutral?\"
@LeaderMcConnell: \"I think we'll going to have a crowded field for president. I assume that most of that will unfold later.\" pic.twitter.com/Tc2DLSlCoU

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I assume that most of that will unfold later.\" pic.twitter.com/Tc2DLSlCoU CSPAN (@cspan) July 19, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1549463489550368770/img/zDTcokyWaJhmpo3V.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"CSPAN on 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Q: "If Donald Trump launches another run for president how will you handle that? Will you oppose his candidacy? Will you stay neutral?"
@LeaderMcConnell : "I think we'll going to have a crowded field for president. I assume that most of that will unfold later." pic.twitter.com/Tc2DLSlCoU
CSPAN (@cspan) July 19, 2022

While McConnell previously called Trump morally responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, he has also said he would still vote for the former president if he were the partys nominee.

I think I have an obligation to support the nominee of my party, McConnell told Axios Jonathan Swan in April.

While Trump lost the 2020 election, he remains a powerful figure in the Republican Party . Trump has so far endorsed more than 200 candidates around the country, according to The New York Times. Some of his endorsements, including J.D. Vance in Ohios GOP Senate primary , were deemed essential to the candidates securing victory.

Trump has yet to announce his own 2024 candidacy but told New York Magazines Olivia Nuzzi on July 11 that he believes he would be successful if he chose to do so.

Look, he said, I feel very confident that, if I decide to run, Ill win.

The ex-president added that his big decision will be whether to launch his bid before or after the midterm elections in November.

Trumps fundraising recently has taken a hit , slowing in the first half of 2022 for the first time since he left office in January 2021. This stands in contrast with other Republicans , including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as a top contender.

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Other Republicans could throw their hats into the ring, including former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who gave her biggest hint yet on Monday.

No deal is better than a bad deal, she said, slamming President Joe Biden for seeking to reinstate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, according to The Hill . And if this president signs any sort of deal, Ill make you a promise. The next president will shred it on her first day in office.

Just saying, sometimes it takes a woman, she continued.