Former president Donald Trump personally attacked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a statement, calling him an "unsmiling political hack" among other insults.
Trump's statement Tuesday came days after he was acquitted in his second impeachment trial by most of his fellow Republicans, including McConnell in the Senate trial on charges of incitement brought by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Trump's statement is a response to McConnell's speech on the Senate floor after the impeachment vote, where he blasted the former president and alleged that he was "morally responsible" for causing the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6.
McConnell implied that the former president was liable for everything that had happened during the riots and that he should be facing criminal and civil litigation. McConnell also went as far as to say that Trump's actions amounted to a "disgraceful dereliction of duty."
Trump shot back with his own harsh assessment.
"Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again," Trump said in a statement.
Trump also questioned McConnell's ability to control the Republican Party, stating that he lacked the "political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality." Trump added that the Republican Party had lost the respect of the public, especially now with McConnell at the helm.
Trump adviser Jason Miller said that the original unrevised version of the former president's statement was much tougher. Trump has been known to openly attack and insult his critics and political opponents. During his tenure, Trump had insulted members of his own cabinet, fellow Republicans, and his own health experts.
The exchange underscores the ongoing rift between the two Republican leaders, seemingly dividing the party and putting its future into question.
Senator Lindsey Graham said that he is now worried about the future of the party after having lost the House, the Senate, and the presidency. The Republican Party is still trying to regroup but the rift between Trump and McConnell is not making that easy.
"I'm more worried about 2022 than I've ever been. I don't want to eat our own. We need to knock this off," Graham said in response to the verbal feud between Trump and McConnell.
