On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance delivered a rare public rebuke of former Republican leader Mitch McConnell for his refusal to support a key Pentagon nominee, unleashing a barrage of MAGA-fueled criticism. Shortly after Elbridge Colby was selected by President Donald Trump to be the top policy strategist at the Defense Department, McConnell became the only Republican to vote against him, sparking the verbal spat.
In a statement that swiftly went viral on social media, McConnell stated, “America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline.”
In an Xpost, Vance wrote, “Mitch’s vote today—like so much of the last few years of his career—is one of the great acts of political pettiness I’ve ever seen.”
The vice president was joined by a chorus of conservatives who were tired of McConnell’s conflict with and treatment of the president.
Nate Morris, a businessman from Kentucky, wrote on X, “Elbridge Colby is one of the best foreign policy thinkers in the GOP, and it’s pitiful to watch Mitch McConnell continue to stand with Democrats to sabotage President Trump.” “For this reason, whoever takes Mitch’s place in the Senate must be a complete departure from him—it’s time for a change!”
In response to Vance’s post, Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) said, “I’m glad things are changing.”
Meanwhile, in an X post directed at its followers, Breitbart News called McConnell “China-linked Senator Mitch McConnell.” Conservative David Hardin declared, “MITCH MCCONNELL IS A TRAITOR!!” in Dallas, Texas.
In the end, Colby was confirmed by the Senate 54-45, mostly on party line votes, with the majority of Democrats once again opposing him because they didn’t agree with Trump.
Without really offering any supporting evidence, McConnell implied in his lengthy statement on Tuesday that Colby’s confirmation could “do irreparable damage to the system of alliances and partnerships” at the Pentagon.
