Donald Trump attacks Senate Republican family’s ‘substantial Chinese business holdings’

Trump derides Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s ability to maintain a tough China stance

McConnell is married to Elaine Chao, Trump’s former transportation secretary, whose family owns a shipping firm linked to Chinese state companies

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Mitch McConnell and his wife, Elaine Chao, in Louisville, Kentucky on November 3, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:54am, 18 Feb 2021Updated: 7:43am, 18 Feb 2021

Former president Donald Trump’s unbridled attack on a powerful Senate Republican citing his wife’s business ties with China suggests he will continue to use Beijing as a cudgel against the Joe Biden administration and adversaries as he manoeuvres to retain influence, analysts and former officials said.

Trump questioned Mitch McConnell’s effectiveness, personality and credibility in a broadside on Tuesday, after the Senate Republican leader blamed him for being “practically and morally” responsible for the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol building.

After calling McConnell “dour” and “sullen”, Trump derided McConnell’s ability to maintain a tough China stance given his family’s “substantial Chinese business holdings”.

McConnell is married to Elaine Chao, Trump’s former transportation secretary, whose family owns a shipping firm linked to Chinese state companies. Chao resigned on January 7 saying she was “deeply troubled” by the Capitol breach.

Mitch McConnell listens to Donald Trump speak during a press conference in Washington last year. Photo: AFP

“Trump is going to look for any ammunition he can find in order to come back to power,” said Jeff Moon, president of consultancy Moon Strategies and a former National Security Council official. “And China was a red hot button for him during his administration that he will continue to try and press in the future.”

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