McConnell continues to break with Trump on immunity claims

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is still breaking with Donald Trump on the former president’s claims of having total immunity — and on his role in the events of Jan. 6 — putting the two men at striking odds just months out from the election.

The Supreme Court is currently weighing whether a president has total immunity from criminal charges, as Trump has claimed amid a litany of cases against him. An impeachment trial in 2021 acquitted Trump from having incited the events of Jan. 6; McConnell was among those who voted to acquit. But the GOP leader at the time did say presidents can be found criminally and civilly liable for their actions.

In an interview with CBS’ "Face the Nation" that aired Sunday, McConnell was repeatedly pressed on whether he stood by his 2021 comments claiming presidents do not have total immunity.

“I stand by everything I said then," McConnell told host Margaret Brennan. "Obviously, it'll be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether I was correct."

McConnell was also asked if he stood by his 2021 comments claiming Trump was “practically and morally responsible for provoking the events” of Jan. 6, 2021. He stood by those remarks as well, telling CBS, “I stand by everything I've said on January 6, and February 13, 2021.”

It’s not the first time McConnell has stuck to his guns decrying the events of Jan. 6. But he’s now endorsed Trump, and the Supreme Court case could be critical to the outcome of Trump’s presidential election this fall. Democrats are also heavily leaning into issues of democracy this cycle, drawing on the events of Jan. 6. Trump has repeatedly called individuals in prison for the events of Jan. 6 “hostages.”

Asked on a different show, NBC News’ "Meet the Press," if his endorsement would extend to explicitly voting for Trump, McConnell simply replied: "I said three years ago, shortly after the assault on the Capitol, that I would support the nominee of the party, whoever that was. And I do.”

The interview blitz comes just days after the Senate passed a whopping $95 billion foreign aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Landing the aid was an absolute imperative for McConnell over the past few months despite resistance from within his own party to further aid for Ukraine. Trump, for one, earlier this year insisted all Ukraine aid should be a loan.

Though, the former president did tone down his distaste for the package over the past few weeks. On the final vote for the package, Senate GOP support grew significantly.

Brennan also challenged McConnell on whether his world view on issues like Ukraine, Russia and other topics are more aligned with President Joe Biden than Trump.

“I wouldn't have withdrawn from Afghanistan. I wouldn't have submitted four budgets in a row for Defense that don't even keep up with inflation,” McConnell said in a rebuke of Biden administration policy. “I’ve got plenty of differences with the current administration. Whether I will have differences with the next administration remains to be seen.”