‘Big problem?’ Mitch McConnell's big spending, China ties undercut GOP message, Trump says

The House secured an uncharacteristically bipartisan vote to approve a special investigative panel on China and is moving quickly to cut federal spending, but former President Donald Trump sees one big obstacle looming on the horizon.

"The big problem the Republican Party has is Mitch McConnell," Trump told Just the News on Tuesday in a wide-ranging interview. 

The 45th president suggested that McConnell's history of big spending — including a deal with Democrats for a year-end, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill — and his family ties to China will undercut the clear messaging the House Republicans have mapped out for 2023.

"How he approved that $1.7 trillion is shocking, because if he would have waited 10 days, the House would have either killed it or made it much better," he said. "How he went and just approved that — he's a real problem for the party, because he does anything the Democrats want." 

Trump went on to say that the source of McConnell's support among his loyal faction of Senate Republicans is the campaign cash he controls. 

"He's got his 10 or 12 people that you have to get, and they just follow his lead because he gives them a lot of campaign contributions," he explained. "His leadership ability is only in that he raised his money, and then he gives them a lot of money to campaign."

McConnell's wife (and former Trump transportation secretary) Elaine Chao "is wedded to China, and it's such a conflict" Trump alleged. "That this guy is the head of the Senate is just an embarrassment to Republicans. It shouldn't be. And it's been like that for a long time."