Mitch McConnell issues Trump warning: ‘Reminiscent of pre-World War II’

Outbound The Senate Republicans Leader Mitch McConnell has warned that the world is in a “very dangerous place” similar to the pre-World War II period ahead of the president-elect Donald Trumpreturns to the White House.

The Kentucky senator spoke out against isolationism within the GOP and Trump’s “America First” policies in an interview with Financial Times published Wednesday.

“We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of pre-World War II,” McConnell said. “Even the slogan is the same: ‘America First.’ That’s what they said in the ’30s.”

McConnell will chair the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, where the panel oversees much of Pentagons budget when the GOP takes control of the upper chamber in January. He said he is prepared to push back against Trump’s potential foreign policy, such as reduction of military funding to Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia’s invasion.

McConnell said the United States must avoid isolationism and remain active on the world stage. He seemed to suggest that it was a mistake for the United States to initially stay out of World War II while Nazi Germany took over parts of Europe. The senator praised former President Ronald Reagan “peace through strength” strategy during the Cold War over Trump’s current “America First” policy.

“For most American voters, I think the simple answer is, “Let’s stay out of it.” That was the argument in the ’30s, and it just won’t work, McConnell said. “Thanks to Reagan, we know, what works—not just saying peace through strength, but demonstrating it.”

Newsweek has reached out to McConnell’s office and Trump’s transition team for comment by email outside regular business hours.

In 1940, an anti-war and isolationist pressure group, the America First Committee, was launched to oppose the United States entering World War II. The United States would eventually enter World War II on December 8, 1941, the day after Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

McConnell told Financial Times that the cost of preventing war is significantly lower than the cost of fighting one. He pointed out that the United States spent 37 percent of GDP fighting World War II, compared to 2.7 percent in 2023 on deterrence.

McConnell said he was unsure whether the GOP will support military aid to Ukraine next year, when it controls the presidency and both houses of Congressbut “the goal here is for the Russians not to win.”

While also referring to Israel, McConnell added: “We have two Democratic allies who are fighting for their lives. I don’t think we should micromanage what they think is necessary to win.”

McConnell has had an often tense relationship with Trump over the years, especially in the wake of January 6th attack on the Capitol in 2021.

Senator told Financial Times that he voted for Trump in November when he “endorsed the ticket.”

When asked if he regrets not doing more to prevent Trump from becoming president again, McConnell replied: “The election is over and we’re moving on.”

McConnell described Trump’s 2024 election victory as a “remarkable comeback” and proof that the president-elect remains “the most influential Republican out there.”

The Kentucky senator, whose current term ends in 2027, said he intends to stand up to Trump in his new role on the Senate Defense Appropriations Panel.

“Regardless of who was elected president, I think it would take a significant pushback, yes, and I intend to be one of the pushers,” McConnell said.

Trump has promised that the nearly three-year war between Russia and Ukraine would end when he returns to the White House.