Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday offered his assessment on the idea of imposing term limits on GOP leaders in the upper chamber.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), one of the lawmakers who have thrown their hat in the ring to succeed McConnell, has endorsed the concept, saying the Republican Party is not fully utilizing some of the great talent we have.

But McConnell, who has been serving in the leadership post since 2007, disagrees.

Well, we have term limits now. Theyre called elections and I had a contest myself during my last election as leader, he said, citing the unsuccessful effort by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to unseat him following the partys underwhelming performance in the 2022 midterm elections.

McConnell added that no term limits apply to those who serve in leadership posts in the House of Representatives.

I think the conference ought to be able to be free to choose whoever, he said. Theres no limit on the speaker or the other House leaders. That wont be my decision to make, but I think its totally inappropriate.

Cornyn has specifically called for six-year term limits, saying the move would allow more members with deep experience to take a turn in leadership roles.

Its possible theres more than one person that could be a good leader for our for our party in the Senate and so I dont know why we wouldnt have that discussion, Cornyn said, according to CNNs Manu Raju .

McConnell last week announced he would be leaving the job in November, kicking off the race for his succession.

Apart from Cornyn, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has also entered the contest to take over from McConnell, while Sen. Rick Scott has previously said he is also mulling a run .

McConnell said he wont be making an endorsement in the race.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Barasso (R-Wyo.), who was considered a likely contender for the job, is instead choosing to run for Republican whip.

McConnell also made headlines Wednesday for his decision to publicly back Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, following Nikki Haleys announcement that she was suspending her presidential campaign.

It is abundantly clear that former President Trump has earned the requisite support of Republican voters to be our nominee for President of the United States, McConnell said. It should come as no surprise that as nominee, he will have my support.

McConnell had previously criticized Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

But he told reporters he was simply following through on a pledge he made in a Fox News interview in February 2021 to support the partys eventual nominee, even if it was Trump.