The enemy of my enemy is my friend, goes the old adage. And as Donald Trump alienates one-time allies at a rapid pace, anti-Trump people are finding themselves with more and more friends — awkward ones at that, like Mitch McConnell. Kind of. It has long been a truism that it would take a GOP revolt, not relentless sniping from Democrats, to undermine Trump’s power. And a GOP revolt in any meaningful form would have to include the party heavyweights — that is, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan has so far proved immune to calls to criticize the president more than mildly, but McConnell has been reported to wonder in private if Trump can “save [the] presidency.” If McConnell senses at any point that Trump can’t, he could be a very unlikely asset to Democrats who believe Trump is unfit and ineffective.
But McConnell seemed to try to quiet the roiling waters with a speech on Thursday morning that was generally positive about Trump. Alas, it was not positive enough as far as the president was concerned. Trump didn’t sound assuaged. He continued on Twitter with typical vitriol: “The only problem I have with Mitch McConnell is that, after hearing Repeal & Replace for 7 years, he failed! That should NEVER have happened!” It’s a theme the president has returned to frequently:
Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn’t get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2017
McConnell could hardly be considered a friend to a Liberal agenda. But if he tires of Trump’s public rebukes and senses weakness in the president’s position, McConnell could sap strength from an administration that has so far seen little resistance from more traditional Republicans. That may not ultimately help the Democrats, even if successful — McConnell wouldn’t start preaching affirmative action or anything — but it could hinder Trump, which for some Dems is job one.