SENATE MINORITY leader Mitch McConnell has insisted he will support Donald Trump should the former president win the Republican nomination in 2024.
McConnell has been a fierce critic of Trump in recent weeks, and the two have been locked in a war of words ever since the president's final few days in office.
Despite voting to acquit Trump during his second impeachment on February 13, McConnell said he holds his former ally "practically and morally responsible" for the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, which resulted in the deaths of five people, including one police officer.
In response, Trump urged Republicans to turn their back on McConnell, describing him as "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack".
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (L) listens to U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House July 20, 2020.In spite of the bickering, McConnell appeared to concede that he'd get behind Trump should he be picked as Republican candidate in 2024.
"I've got at least four members that I think are planning on running for president, plus governors and others," McConnell said.
"There's no incumbent, [so it] should be a wide open race."
When asked directly if he would support Trump if he were to win the nomination, he replied: "The nominee of the party? Absolutely."
It comes just days after former presidential candidate Mitt Romney predicted that if Trump ran for Republican nominatee in 2024, he'd win it.
"I don't know if he'll run in 2024 or not, but if he does, I'm pretty sure he will win the nomination," Romney said on Tuesday.
His admission comes ahead of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which will be held in Orlando, Florida this year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mr McConnell will no longer be a part of proceedings following his condemnation of Trump.
