Please see is a transcript of an interview with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell that can wind on April 28, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for making presen for us as of late.
SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL: Satisfied to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: A accumulation of subjects I wish to get to you on in regard to nationwide safety. I need to get started right here at house with those protests that we have got detectable on school campuses during america in assistance of Palestinians in Gaza, however jumbled together there, some posters, some statements which are anti-semitic. Speaker Johnson visited Columbia and instructed CBS, “we need to call in the National Guard and law enforcement to take control.” Governor Abbott of Texas mentioned “all of the protesters belong in jail.” There are protests in Texas. Do you consider them?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, right here’s the best way I take a look at it. The First Modification is impressive. However it doesn’t provide the skill to say there’s a fireplace happening in a theater, as it threatens everybody else. What must occur, no less than at first, is those college presidents wish to get keep watch over of the condition, permit independent accent and thrust back towards antisemitism. I believed that changed into in large part long gone on this nation. However we’ve detectable various younger public who’re in truth antisemitic. Why don’t all of them sit down unwell and feature a civil dialog instead than looking to dominate the controversy? And I believe the primary sequence of protection is those college presidents.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you wouldn’t advance to the Nationwide Safe at this level?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Let’s see if those college presidents can get keep watch over of the condition.They ought so to do this. Civil dialogue is what school schooling is meant to be about. I’d be involved in listening to the antisemitic public provide an explanation for the justification for that more or less communicate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden mentioned he condemns the antisemitic protests and condemns those that don’t perceive what’s happening in Palestine, with the Palestinians. Do you consider his commentary?
SEN. MCCONNELL: It’s no longer a query of whether or not I agree, I will discuss for myself. And what I believe is what I simply mentioned about how those school campuses should be managed through the administrations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. I need to advance directly to Ukraine. I perceive you simply hung up with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy. America has shipped him features, together with those lengthy territory missiles as a part of this fresh congressional assistance bundle. What did he say to you? Does he want extra particular guns within the quick time period?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, probably the most issues I apologized for is it’s taken too lengthy. When you advance again to the start of this management, although I supported clearly the supplemental request and labored withered to get Republican votes for it, this all began with a precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan. It’s like sending out a inexperienced bright to the entire rogue regimes world wide that the American citizens are going house. Quantity two, no longer giving the Ukrainians what they want quickly plenty. Didn’t simply get started with this management, I have in mind the Obama management despatched them foods able to devour. It’s no longer precisely a technique to secure your self.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Following the 2014 bias invasion?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Sure, yeah. So, it’s steadily gotten higher. The management has nonetheless been self deterring themselves, with some worry that the Russians can be deterred through our deficit of motion. So my major grievance is let’s get the guns there as temporarily as imaginable. I apologized for a way lengthy it took Congress to do its phase, however we in spite of everything did. And he changed into additionally inspired through the truth that Republican assistance grew within the Senate considerably, considerably.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Since you had been whipping the ones votes, you satisfied 9 supplementary senators.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly I attempted- It wasn’t one thing I felt frivolously about, let’s put it that approach.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However who did you’re feeling you had been apologizing for?
SEN. MCCONNELL: The slowness of it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But if- that wasn’t within the Senate?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m sorry?
MARGARET BRENNAN: The slowness changed into no longer within the Senate. Had been you apologizing for Space Republicans?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Negative, it changed into within the Senate. We spent about 4 months making an attempt to- to comply with a do business in to do business in with our personal border with Mexico, which is a situation. And to begin with, clearly, to construct a regulation you need to do business in with the alternative aspect. They’ve were given the White Space, they were given the Senate. We got here up with an offer. It changed into, my individuals felt a lot of them weren’t excellent plenty. Our nominee for President gave the look to be unwilling about performing on that. And in order that took 3 or 4 months. After we discovered we weren’t going so to legislate at the border, we board in in terms of the supplemental. And I believe various my individuals that specialize in that modified their thoughts, and we grew from 22 to in truth 32. One member ignored the terminating vote however would have voted for it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Â You discussed the border, you had empowered Senator Lankford to return to this bipartisan do business in with the White Space. The President says that he regrets that that wasn’t a part of this ultimate bundle. I do know you discussed the Republican nominee didn’t assistance it. Did Donald Trump execute that border invoice?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, I believe there changed into a real deficit of zest for the product. And the product–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — However you really liked the product?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, however I heartless, to bring to construct a law- it’s a Democratic president and a Democratic Senate, you couldn’t just do what you sought after to do. Would I’ve favored to have had extra? Completely. That changed into no longer imaginable if we had been looking to construct a regulation. And we had been looking to negotiate. Senator Lankford did, individually, an finest process. However it wasn’t excellent plenty for a majority of our individuals, or it appears for the Space both.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On Ukraine, the management has reportedly instructed the Ukrainians to not goal Russian power provides, to not hearth into Russia with those US provided guns, and to steer clear of assaults on Crimea, out of worry of escalation. Will have to there be restrictions on those US guns that you simply helped handover them?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I don’t assume so. They’re- they’re looking to inform the Israelis easy methods to run their struggle towards Hamas. Those are democratic allies of ours, underneath critical warning, and I don’t assume we should be looking to inform them to have an election which we did in Israel, or what their army ways should be. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: — In Israel, you’re speaking about now?
SEN. MCCONNELL: In both nation, I believe we ought to present them what they wish to win.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you imagine that President Zelenskyy is empowered to significance those guns as he sees are compatible?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, I am hoping so. I don’t assume we- I don’t know the way again and again I will say it. I don’t assume we should be telling them easy methods to win their very own struggle. They’re in the midst of it. They’re there. They know what they want. I believe our process is to aid them win.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you labored with the Democratic chief to get this bundle via. However within the presen of the lengthen that you just said, Russia’s army land forces have grown again to the place they had been prior to the invasion. The Military is 15% greater, and so they’ve strengthened the 20% of Ukrainian space that they reserve. Those are the entire phrases of the Best Allied Commander himself. Do you’re feeling your birthday party is chargeable for the ones setbacks?
SEN. MCCONNELL: A lot of them, yeah. We took too lengthy. This factor changed into like a folk reunion, if you’re going to, with a accumulation of various issues of view being expressed across the desk. Chuck did a excellent process. However the entire Democrats had been for Ukraine. There is not any query that the controversy changed into in our folk, on our aspect. And there changed into a accumulation of skepticism for a protracted presen, however I believe it were given higher. And I believe we proved that previous this pace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you assume modified minds?
SEN. MCCONNELL: What do I believe what?
MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you assume modified that?
SEN. MCCONNELL: The fresh details. After we discovered we weren’t taking to get a border end result, I believe our individuals truly began that specialize in the-the bundle. It was- it changed into unclouded that it changed into no longer taking to have a border provision hooked up to it. And there are nearly disagree excellent arguments by contrast. Virtually disagree excellent ar- each and every argument that made it- made through the warring parties is provably incorrect. And the details, I believe, had been convincing for various our individuals and so they modified their minds.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You might be chief for any other 8 months. However you’ve mentioned you’re going to stick and provide out your time period. Donald Trump would possibly once more transform president. In step with our original CBS polling, 79% of self-identified Republicans instructed us that the supply of data they maximum believe on Ukraine and Russia is Donald Trump. The Pentagon got here in not up to that at 60%. This sentiment doesn’t appear to be disappearing, how can you counter that?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Glance, what I need to do and what I’m taken with isn’t the presidential race, however getting the Senate again. I’ve been the bulk chief, I’ve been the minority chief, majority is healthier.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However this isn’t the race. That is persuading family opinion.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Yeah. Let me end. I believe the one maximum impressive factor I will do is construct positive my successor is almost all chief, regardless of how the presidential election comes out. I haven’t been solely glad with this management. I believe the truth that our nominee mainly determined to not proceed whipping public towards the bundle changed into a excellent signal and I’m taking to be advocating expanding the protection price range regardless of who will get elected, and getting ready ourselves for the longer term, which is China, Russia, and Iran. This management’s price range requests for protection haven’t even saved up with inflation. That should alternate and we wish to alternate as smartly. Right here in Congress, the Democrats have all the time insisted that we spend simply as a lot on home as protection. That modified within the terminating appropriations procedure. Our spending must mirror the wishes, and the wishes now are at the protection aspect.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So the Biden protection spending for fiscal presen ’25, requires a 1% build up, however your level is: doesn’t book up with inflation as a result of they’ll in truth be reducing presen prior.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Proper. Yeah. I- I believe this war has gotten our consideration on each side, that the sector has modified and that this can be a very, very bad length for our nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you mentioned the Republican nominee determined to not take towards the bundle. In alternative phrases, opposed telling lawmakers that- to not vote for it, however we all know Donald Trump isn’t a fan of- of Zelenskyy. Viktor Orban, the Top Minister of Hungary, not too long ago had dinner with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago and upcoming instructed newshounds that Trump mentioned he gained’t give a penny to Ukraine and that’ll be the best way he forces an finish to the combating. If that’s the elemental trust of the person who’s taking to be commander-in-chief, how do you block him?
SEN. MCCONNELL: What I’m doing is attempting to switch the Senate so that we have got a majority and looking to form a majority of nearly all of the significance of protection spending, regardless of who wins the presidential election. I will’t keep watch over that. I’ve some affect right here within the Senate. I intend to significance it regardless of who will get elected president to extend our protection price range and get able for the demanding situations that we have got forward people, instead than simply having a look backward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that’s a problem the place you could have to be the firewall towards your individual birthday party and its chief.
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’ve been prepared to try this. I had one thing to do with converting opinion within the Senate in this factor and I believe a accumulation extra of my individuals now perceive the significance of it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You, on your press convention the alternative time, you unloaded somewhat on Tucker Carlson for demonizing Ukraine and for taking to Russia and talking to Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump by no means recommended this bundle and on your phrases had combined perspectives on it. How are you able to say that isolationism and the streak inside your birthday party goes to be managed when there are robust voices like this? You appear to be announcing right here the establishment will ban this.
(CROSSTALK)
SEN. MCCONNELL: We- we- we’ve been there. We would possibly not have presen for a historical past lesson, however we’ve been there prior to. Earlier than Global Struggle II and then Global Struggle II, probably the most eminent Republican of that year changed into Robert Taft. He adverse lend-lease. He adverse NATO. He adverse the Marshall Plan. In order that strand of isolationism previous to this terminating truly bulky struggle changed into opposed when Eisenhower beat Taft for the nomination and had a wholly other view of our function on the earth and that’s been the case of maximum presidents since upcoming. So having a debate about isolationism has took place in my birthday party prior to. It’s no longer miserable, however but you want to interact and construct the argument and that’s why I’m pleased with the truth that we larger our assistance considerably within the Senate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And it got here with it no longer simply assistance for Ukraine, assistance for Israel, assistance for Palestinians and assistance for the Indo Pacific, together with Taiwan. Do you assume the best way that you just wrote this and structured this may resist those forces of opposition and a possible Trump presidency?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, I heartless, we’ve were given a accumulation extra to do. I heartless, this changed into an impressive episode. I believe the truth that isolationism, no less than in this factor, changed into defeated isn’t just about plenty.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You do assume it changed into defeated.
SEN. MCCONNELL: In this explicit factor. I don’t assume it’s totally long gone. We wish to capitaltreasury protection based totally upon the situations and the situations are we’ve got two bulky adversaries: China, Russia. Global Struggle II, we had Japan, Germany. What do we’ve got along with that now that we didn’t have upcoming? Isolationism and the warning of Iran, and terrorists. That’s other and we wish to defeat that mindset, and go budgets that mirror the place we are actually and prone to be going forward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: A few future then January 6, you voted to acquit Donald Trump then he changed into impeached. And also you mentioned at the Senate flooring, “Trump didn’t get away with anything yet… We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.” Do you continue to imagine that former presidents don’t seem to be totally exempt from legal responsibility?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Let’s put it this manner. I addressed that factor on February the Thirteenth–
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s lively prior to the Best Courtroom as we discuss.
SEN. MCCONNELL: –And January the sixth of 2021. I rise through the entirety I mentioned upcoming. Clearly, it’ll be as much as the Best Courtroom to make a decision whether or not I used to be proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You were given concerned, even though, and a part of what you mentioned is a part of this example, in many ways. Since you argued for the Senate to not convict Mr. Trump, and central to his immunity argument is the declare {that a} former president who changed into impeached and convicted through the Senate may also be criminally prosecuted. He changed into no longer. Do you feel sorry about your selection? It’s a part of the protection.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Â I don’t feel sorry about the rest I mentioned upcoming. I haven’t taken it- the rest I mentioned upcoming again, however the solution on your query goes to be within the courts. The Best Courtroom’s gonna make a decision that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What do you recall to mind that argument?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I instructed you what I believed on January 6 and February 13 of 2021. I rise through the entirety I mentioned upcoming, however the solution is in courtroom. The Best Courtroom’s gonna resolve that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you rise through your description of Trump as almost and morally chargeable for scary the occasions of January 6, and probably criminally accountable and liable?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I don’t know the way again and again you’re gonna question me the similar query. I rise through the entirety I’ve mentioned on January 6, and February 13, 2021.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, I’m asking you the query as a result of because the life few months have handed, and our terminating dialog, you’ve recommended him for reelection and you’ve got unclouded ethical readability, as you describe it, and you assert you continue to have those ideals.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Â You wish to have to get well analysis. I used to be requested that query 3 years in the past. If he had been the nominee, would I assistance him?
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you mentioned you can assistance whoever the nominee changed into.
SEN. MCCONNELL: And I mentioned sure. Since the citizens of my birthday party around the nation have decided. Because the Republican chief of the Senate, clearly, I’m gonna assistance the nominee of our birthday party.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you’ve taken stands on problems you’re feeling morally are- are- are of sturdy nationwide safety pursuits and morally crucial. That- that changed into your argument on Ukraine. And that you just had been bucking, in many ways, a populist opinion. So in this one, I’m simply questioning the way you provide an explanation for that, whilst you say it changed into excellent plenty for various Republicans that he’d be the nominee, as a result of that’s the populist opinion. It’s no longer taking the location that he has- he doesn’t are living as much as the function.
(CROSSTALK)
SEN. MCCONNELL: The problem is- the problem is- the problem is- what sort of affect, despite the fact that I had selected to become involved within the presidential election, what sort of affect would I’ve had?
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re one of the crucial robust Republicans.
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m- I’m the Republican chief of the Senate. What we do this is attempt to construct regulation. I really like us to be within the majority. I’m spending my political presen and my political capital, no matter quantity I’ve, on looking to turn the Senate in order that my successor is almost all chief and no longer the minority chief.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I keep in mind that. However you might be combating the ones forces, no longer simply within the method of Donald Trump, however most of these others- alternative senators, together with J.D. Vance and others, who’re espousing issues that he helps which are counter on your worldview and counter to what you might be announcing is in the most productive passion of The usa.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, you and I–
MARGARET BRENNAN: So it’s withered to grasp once in a while.
SEN. MCCONNELL: You and I sit down right here the pace of a victory for the forces who’re towards isolationism, and you persevere in speaking about those that misplaced. I believe the most productive proof of the way we’re doing pushing again towards isolationism is the remaining between 22 and 32.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re extra aligned with Joe Biden than Donald Trump on your view of The usa’s function on the earth, it might appear.
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m sorry, what- what do you-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your worldview turns out extra aligned with Joe Biden in terms of American leadership–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –I wouldn’t–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –In those international conflicts–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –Neatly–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Later with Donald Trump–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –I undoubtedly wouldn’t–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Who has spoken towards Volodymyr Zelinskyy, who has no longer recommended the bundle that you simply labored so withered to recover from the end sequence.
SEN. MCCONNELL: K. Glance, I- I wouldn’t have withdrawn from Afghanistan. I wouldn’t have submitted 4 budgets in a row for protection that don’t even book up with inflation. I’ve were given plethora of variations with the wave management. Whether or not I will be able to have variations with the then management rest to be detectable. And so I’m no longer taking to expect what would possibly occur in this factor. I do know what- what I believe and it doesn’t construct any remaining what the result of the presidential election is. I’m taking to be that specialize in this residue of my presen within the Senate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However this needs to be one thing that you just assume a accumulation about and try with. Donald Trump comes then you in my opinion, he’s come then your spouse.
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, it- it’s no longer about me, it’s about what the proper factor to do for the rustic is.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is he the proper factor to do for the rustic, as a Republican chief here–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –That is–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –One of the crucial robust within the nation?
SEN. MCCONNELL: That is the right–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Is he–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –Factor to do for the rustic and that’s what I’m advocating. Regardless of who will get elected president, I’m taking to be pushing, what I’ve mentioned many times to you as of late is for an build up in protection budgets for us to whip critically the warning of China, Russia and Iran. And that calls for extra protection spending than we’re these days i’m busy in.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What I listen you announcing, inform me if I’m getting it incorrect, is that you’ll block Donald Trump if he’s commander in leader. Despite the fact that you’re no longer chief, you’re taking to do probably the most you’ll to counter this isolationist worldview and to counter, or restrict, what he may do if reelected.
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m gonna counter, regardless of who’s elected president, advocating issues that I believe don’t seem to be excellent for The usa. So that you can whether or not I’m nearer to 1 or any other is dependent upon who the president is and what they recommend. Campaigns are lovely vociferous and what I support about is, what does the one who in truth will get elected in the end do. And I’ve made it completely unclouded, accurate, as we’ve mentioned over and time and again, the place my pursuits are and the place my advocacy will probably be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will have to he advance to Kyiv such as you did? Will have to Mr. Trump, as candidate, as consultant of your birthday party, advance and spot Ukraine for himself?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I’m no longer gonna give him any recommendation. I- I’m try–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Alternative Republican applicants who’re racing towards him and misplaced, they did that. You probably did that. You place your individual day in peril. You went and saw–
SEN. MCCONNELL: Margaret, I don’t know the way again and again I’ve to inform you. I’m that specialize in turning the Senate Republicans into the bulk right here and that specialize in advocating, as I believe I effectively did this very pace, for transferring clear of the isolationist motion that started with Tucker Carlson.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It all started with Tucker Carlson?
SEN. MCCONNELL: It did. He has a huge- he had a gigantic target market amongst rank and record Republicans. And I believe it changed into very harmful, very impactful on common Republican citizens and created a bulky disorder.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of he mimicked Republican propaganda and amplified it and upcoming that’s been repeated at the Space flooring because the Space Intel Chairman mentioned?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, I undoubtedly disagreed with him and upcoming he undoubtedly ended up the place he will have to were all alongside, interviewing Vladimir Putin.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will you reality take a look at Donald Trump when he says these items? As a result of he has additionally repeated a few of these claims —
SEN. MCCONNELL: –I’m no longer gonna give any recommendation to our candidate in the- within the presidential election. What I’m that specialize in is popping the Senate right into a majority Republican.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Quite a lot of your Republican senators, together with JD Vance, repeat a few of these ideas–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –Neatly, each and every people construct a decision–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –That American can struggle one struggle without delay, that The usa, despite the fact that it’s indirectly fascinated by Ukraine with its personal troops is somehow–
SEN. MCCONNELL: –Neatly, glance, I- I- I make a choice how I spend my presen and I’m no longer taking to spend it giving the Republican candidate for president recommendation. I’m going to concentrate on looking to flip this Senate Republicans right into a majority.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How a lot of the presen will your successor need to spend in this, at the infighting?
SEN. MCCONNELL: Neatly, I believe this changed into a bulky factor that we resolved this pace. What number of problems pop up between now and the tip of the presen that build controversy. Who is aware of?
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m being instructed, Chief, that we’re out of presen. Is there the rest that we didn’t get to that you just assume we will have to speak about?
SEN. MCCONNELL: I believe we’ve coated it lovely smartly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks on your presen as of late.
SEN. MCCONNELL: You’re welcome.
