The cracks between President Donald Trump and his more ardent supporters continue to widen as the impeachment inquiry progresses. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky contradicted a claim Trump made.
Asked by a reporter about a claim by the President that he had exonerated him for his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, McConnell was quick to correct them.
Watch the interaction here.
.@senatemajldr effectively says Trump made up his story on him and McConnell discussing the "perfect" phone call on… https://t.co/QHOagz01AX— Oliver Willis (@Oliver Willis) 1571769822.0
@owillis @senatemajldr Donnie, meet bus Mitch just threw you under...— morsee (@morsee) 1571770063.0
@owillis @senatemajldr https://t.co/u9ByvcSGVV— Bob L (@Bob L) 1571770192.0
Not only did GOP Senator McConnell state he didn't tell the President his Ukrainian phone call was "perfect," he also said no discussion with the President about the call ever took place.
The denial and contradiction are a departure for McConnell. And with his closest allies seemingly abandoning him, some wondered how Trump would react.
@owillis @senatemajldr Live Footage of Trump’s Oval Office reaction. https://t.co/KQJJ111801— Twiggy says: Not táday Commie 🐷!👩🏽💻⚖️ (@Twiggy says: Not táday Commie 🐷!👩🏽💻⚖️) 1571769931.0
@MsPacNWer/Twitter
Others commented on Trump's odd choice of words to describe his call.
@owillis @senatemajldr "Oh Mr. President your beautiful wonderful phone call was just perfect! — It was perfection… https://t.co/GuyoUj3NoI— 👹MrBlifil🤡 (@👹MrBlifil🤡) 1571770111.0
Others questioned who was more believable.
@owillis @Shareblue @senatemajldr I don't trust either of them, so in this case I can't tell which one is lying.— David Dowdy, FCD (@David Dowdy, FCD) 1571770458.0
@owillis @LisaMitschke @senatemajldr https://t.co/GzDyhfRRvb— Michael Furburger (@Michael Furburger) 1571770775.0
@owillis @Shareblue @senatemajldr Oh oh either #MoscowMitch is lying or it’s just another one of 13,000 proven #TrumpLies— Save America from Trump #Resist (@Save America from Trump #Resist) 1571770310.0
While many wondered what took McConnell so long.
@owillis @Acyn @senatemajldr Whoever thought they could work with Trump and not get thrown under the bus at some po… https://t.co/WMlxBqmA1F— Evelyn Stack (@Evelyn Stack) 1571773576.0
@owillis @Shareblue @senatemajldr as is the population, the divide in the GOP party is showing they too have had en… https://t.co/CDXvoCLPJR— eightytunes (@eightytunes) 1571772645.0
@owillis @senatemajldr Just imagine what else he's made up, Mitch.— poljunk (@poljunk) 1571770204.0
@owillis @senatemajldr I'm looking forward to the @nytimes headline: Senate Majority Leader confirms Trump lies.— another Californian (@another Californian) 1571769877.0
But some thought the turnaround had more to do with McConnell's reelection bid in 2020 and current poll numbers for both the President and the Kentucky Senator.
@owillis @senatemajldr How does Kentucky stand this craven little weasel? #MoscowMitch #ImpeachThePres #McConnell… https://t.co/2SgNBULDp8— Waleska Gracia (@Waleska Gracia) 1571770384.0
@owillis @senatemajldr Makes me very curious over what internal polling McConnell has done because when it’s “go ti… https://t.co/qiFun5i2Es— Tom Adams (@Tom Adams) 1571775919.0
@owillis @senatemajldr Something's happening here. I don't think this distancing from Trump by McConnell is without design.— Cait Featherstone (@Cait Featherstone) 1571770077.0
@owillis @senatemajldr McConnell is probably annoyed with Trump's bullshit, as it makes it more difficult for him to be seamlessly evil.— Allison F.🦉 (@Allison F.🦉) 1571769899.0
Whatever the reasoning, McConnell demonstrated that the GOP leadership is no longer in lock step with President Trump. What that means for the impeachment inquiry remains to be seen.
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