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Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell broke with Donald Trump on the centerpiece of his economic policy proposals.
The former president has pledged to impose massive tariffs and influence interest rates if re-elected, which economists say would weaken economic growth and increase inflation for a decade or more, and McConnell said he's "not a fan" of those proposals, reported Semafor.
“Take the bourbon industry, for example," McConnell said. "In Kentucky, it’s really been adversely impacted by European tariffs. I represent Kentucky, in addition to having this job. We’ve had a very bad experience in our signature industry with tariffs.”
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The GOP minority leader typically sidesteps direct questions about Trump, and he didn't say he would prevent the ex-president from implementing tariffs if re-elected, but he made clear he doesn't agree they would help.
“I just differ with President Trump," McConnell said.
The 82-year-old McConnell will step down as the Republican leader after November's election, in which he says his party has a "good chance" of retaking the Senate majority, but he pledged to hold firm in another policy dispute with Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).
“I’m confident that I’m going to be arguing that it’s in America’s interest, our interest, for Ukraine to beat the Russians,” McConnell said. “No matter which administration.”