Mitch McConnell Appears to Swing at Trump—US 'Will Not Be Made Great Again'

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell subtly criticized President-elect Donald Trump's foreign policy approach during a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday. Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, McConnell accepted an honorary "Peace Through Strength" award and emphasized the importance of global alliances, particularly NATO, while cautioning against "isolationism."

McConnell invoked the legacy of President Ronald Reagan, highlighting the "peace through strength" philosophy and the need for robust alliances to address threats from China, Russia, and Iran. Without directly naming Trump, McConnell appeared to challenge the president-elect's foreign policy stance, including his suggestion in a recent Meet the Press interview that the U.S. could withdraw from NATO if member nations failed to meet financial obligations.

McConnell warned against a retreat from global leadership, stating, "America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline." The phrase seemed to echo and critique Trump’s "Make America Great Again" slogan, which Reagan also used during his 1980 campaign.

Highlighting a "new era of great power competition," McConnell cautioned against dismissing lessons from the Cold War. He criticized the belief, prevalent across the political spectrum, that America’s global leadership is self-sustaining, warning of its consequences for institutions like NATO and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

McConnell also lamented the erosion of U.S. military readiness, deterrent capabilities, and defense industrial base, urging "generational investments" in national defense to counter the growing threats posed by the alignment of China, Russia, and Iran. He called this the gravest combined threat to U.S. security since World War II or the Cold War.

Referencing historical lessons, McConnell argued against isolationism, recalling how public opinion shifted as Nazi Germany advanced in Europe, culminating in America’s entry into World War II. "It is reckless to assume once again that we can buy readiness overnight," he said. "President Reagan knew better than to wait for calamity to force his hand. So should we."

McConnell, a vocal advocate for supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, received a standing ovation for his remarks, signaling bipartisan recognition of his call to sustain U.S. global leadership.