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Deepening Rift, Trump Won’t Say if Mitch McConnell Should Step Down - The New York Times

posted onAugust 11, 2017
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Article snippet: WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday sharply amplified his criticism of the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, raising the possibility that Mr. McConnell should relinquish his position if he cannot deliver on top legislative priorities. After venting for days, on Twitter and in private, over the Senate’s failure to pass a health care repeal bill before the August recess, Mr. Trump was asked if Mr. McConnell should consider stepping down. “I’ll tell you what,” Mr. Trump began, speaking to reporters outside his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., “if he doesn’t get repeal and replace done and if he doesn’t get taxes done, meaning cuts and reform, and if he doesn’t get a very easy one to get done, infrastructure — if he doesn’t get them done, then you can ask me that question.” Asked whether that answer amounted to a yes or a no, Mr. Trump replied: “That means ask me that question. Let’s hope he gets it done.” The comments were a remarkable acceleration of tensions between a president aggrieved at his lack of significant legislative accomplishments and a lawmaker in charge of shepherding his agenda through a Republican-led Congress. They also signaled a conspicuous desire from Mr. Trump, who often campaigned as a renegade outsider with few meaningful allegiances to either party, to position himself once more as a crusader against Washington gridlock — even though he and his allies are now at the controls, grinding the gears. Some Trump advisers see ... Link to the full article to read more

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