Michael Steele, former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, spoke out against Senate Majority Leader and fellow Republican Mitch McConnell's recent remarks about President Barack Obama.
Last week, during a private call with former administration officials, President Obama described President Trump's handling of the global pandemic as "an absolute chaotic disaster."
This comment was later leaked to the press.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky later denounced Obama's statement as if he'd made it to the press, saying:
"I think President Obama should have kept his mouth shut. You know, we know he doesn't like much this administration is doing. That's understandable, but I think it's a little bit classless, frankly, to critique an administration that comes after you."
"You had your shot. You were there for eight years. I think the tradition that the Bushes set up of not critiquing the president who comes after you is a good tradition."
Former RNC Chair Michael Steele felt McConnell's words were out of line.
He tweeted:
"I'm sure Mitch is aware that a grown a** black man who happens to be a former president has agency to speak his mind on how his successor is managing this crisis, especially since his successor has yet to keep "his mouth shut" about him. And 'classless'?"
An independent fact check by Snopes shows McConnell was incorrect when saying Presidents don't speak out against successors.
As Steele also noted, Trump has never shied away from breaking norms, especially those in which Presidents tend to refrain from criticizing each other.
As recently as this week, Trump was claiming (falsely) that President Obama failed to prepare the nation for a pandemic.
He also spread nonsensical conspiracy theories about Obama administration investigations into Russia-associated Republicans.
Perhaps Mitch McConnell should take a lesson from his former Chairman and start holding President Trump to the same standards he holds Obama.
The book Mitch, Please!: How Mitch McConnell Sold Out Kentucky (and America, Too) is available here.
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