Tucker Carlson has thrown down the gauntlet, calling on Trump supporters nationwide to demand their senators back Rick Scott (R-FL) for Senate GOP leader. Carlson’s rallying cry comes as longtime Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) schedules a rushed vote for a new leader before newly elected senators from Tuesday’s midterms are sworn in. The timing of McConnell’s maneuver is raising eyebrows across the conservative landscape, as it could sideline incoming pro-Trump voices and cement the old guard’s control over the Senate.
McConnell announced earlier this year that he plans to step down from his leadership role, but instead of waiting for the new Senate class to take their seats, he’s fast-tracked a secret ballot vote for next week. It’s a classic McConnell move—playing procedural games to shore up his establishment allies. Carlson didn’t mince words, labeling the maneuver a “coup” against Trump’s agenda in a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter). “What the hell is going on in the US Senate?” Carlson wrote. “Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the Senate.”
What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on.…
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2024
The two main contenders for the GOP leadership post, John Thune (R-SD) and John Cornyn (R-TX), are establishment figures with a history of bucking Trump’s populist policies. Thune is seen as McConnell’s preferred successor, while Cornyn’s voting record includes support for gun control measures and anti-Trump rhetoric that rankles the party’s conservative base. Carlson blasted Cornyn as “an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheney’s,” making it clear where he stands on the Texas senator’s bid for leadership.
Carlson’s endorsement of Rick Scott is gaining traction, with top conservative voices like Dan Bongino, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Rand Paul (R-KY) all throwing their weight behind Scott. Scott has made his campaign crystal clear: he’s running to execute Trump’s agenda and push back against the establishment GOP that has repeatedly undermined the party’s grassroots base.
The fight for Senate majority leader has exposed deep fractures within the GOP. Carlson’s call to action is a direct challenge to McConnell’s old-school, go-along-to-get-along style of leadership, which many conservatives blame for recent Senate losses. McConnell’s critics argue that his mismanagement of campaign funds cost Republicans winnable races in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada. Instead of supporting Trump-backed candidates, McConnell poured money into anti-Trump Republicans like Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Larry Hogan’s ill-fated Maryland Senate bid. Hogan, a staunch Trump critic, was soundly defeated in the deep blue state, proving once again that McConnell’s strategy is out of touch with the party’s base.
Even as President-elect Trump is credited with leading the GOP to key wins, McConnell continues to downplay Trump’s role in the party’s success. This disconnect has many conservatives fuming, especially as Trump’s endorsements propelled candidates like Dave McCormick to victory in Pennsylvania.
Carlson’s message is clear: it’s time for Republican voters to make their voices heard. If the GOP wants to embrace Trump’s populist mandate and reclaim the Senate majority, they need a leader who’s not afraid to fight for the America First agenda. And according to Carlson, that leader is Rick Scott—not the establishment insiders angling to keep the status quo intact.
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