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Trump Is Attacking The GOP's Top Senator On Twitter And Here's Why

by John Haltiwanger
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Donald Trump has made a habit out of ridiculing his own party on social media -- and he's at it again. This time, Trump targeted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, Trump attacked McConnell on Twitter in relation to the GOP's failed efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka Obamacare). Trump followed up this tweet on Thursday, Aug. 10, and again called out McConnell for similar reasons.

The president is clearly not happy with a recent speech McConnell delivered in which he criticized Trump for his apparent lack of understanding of the democratic process and the "complexity of legislature." McConnell accused Trump of having "excessive expectations" and said he was too attached to "artificial deadlines unrelated to the reality."

In the tweet Trump sent about McConnell on Wednesday, Aug. 9, he said, "Senator Mitch McConnell said I had 'excessive expectations,' but I don't think so. After 7 years of hearing Repeal & Replace, why not done?" His subsequent tweet about McConnell said, "Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!"

Presidents have certainly butted heads with their own parties in the past, but this is debatably the most petty and bizarre behavior we've seen from the White House in the modern era.

McConnell probably should've seen this coming given Trump has habitually exhibited an inability to take criticism, as Laurel Raymond of Think Progress pointed out, but he also had a point: Trump has arguably placed unrealistic standards on Republicans in Congress.

If Trump really wanted to reform health care you would think he'd work with the Republican leadership to find a better way forward instead of lambasting them about how they've fallen short. Trump has arguably chosen to cyberbully his own party over actually leading and supporting it.

Is this how a president should behave?

Most people would likely say no, given polls show a majority of Americans want Trump to stop tweeting. But it's hard to believe Trump's behavior will change anytime in the near future.

Meanwhile, Obamacare remains the law of the land.