McConnell, in Private, Doubts if Trump Can Save Presidency<br />The relationship between President Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has disintegrated to the point<br />that they have not spoken to each other in weeks, and Mr. McConnell has privately expressed uncertainty that Mr. Trump will be able to salvage his administration after a series of summer crises.<br />(Ms. Chao, deflecting a question about the tensions between her husband<br />and the president she serves, told reporters, “I stand by my man — both of them.”)<br />Mr. McConnell signaled to business leaders that he was deeply uncomfortable with Mr. Trump’s comments: Several who resigned advisory roles in the Trump administration contacted Mr. McConnell’s office after the fact, and were told<br />that Mr. McConnell fully understood their choices, three people briefed on the conversations said.<br />“I wouldn’t be surprised if McConnell pulls back his support of Trump and tries to go it alone.”<br />An all-out clash between Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell would play out between men whose strengths and weaknesses are very different.<br />In a show of solidarity, albeit one planned well before Mr. Trump took aim at Mr. Flake, Mr. McConnell will host a $1,000-per-person dinner on Friday in Kentucky for<br />the Arizona senator, as well as for Senator Dean Heller of Nevada, who is also facing a Trump-inspired primary race next year, and Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska.<br />Former Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, a Republican who is close to Mr.<br />McConnell, said frustration with Mr. Trump was boiling over in the chamber.<br />Mr. Trump has also continued to badger and threaten Mr. McConnell’s Senate colleagues, including Senator<br />Jeff Flake of Arizona, whose Republican primary challenger was praised by Mr. Trump last week.
