Trump troubles, McConnell absence create GOP leadership vacuum

Former President Trump’s mounting legal troubles and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s (Ky.) extended absence from the Capitol have created a momentary leadership vacuum atop the Republican Party that’s struggling to find its direction ahead of the 2024 election.

Republican lawmakers are divided over the question of whether Trump or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is the GOP’s leader, and they have different views of whether the center of power in Congress resides more with McConnell or Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).