WASHINGTON – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell privately labeled then-President Donald Trump as “stupid,” “despicable,” and a “narcissist,” following the 2020 election, according to snippets from an upcoming biography about the seasoned Senate leader.

These comments, made by McConnell and relayed to Michael Tackett, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for the Associated Press, are the clearest rebuke from McConnell towards Trump given their historically tense relationship. The biography, titled “The Price of Power,” is scheduled for release on Oct. 29, just days before Election Day.

In the aftermath of the 2020 Election Day, while Trump and his campaign attempted to contest the election results, McConnell noted in recordings that “it’s not just the Democrats who are counting the days” until Trump’s departure from office. He added that Trump’s actions “highlight the wisdom of the American people. They’ve had enough of the falsehoods and daily lies, leading them to remove him from office.”

McConnell remarked that it was “very difficult to accept” the election results “for a narcissist like him.”

He expressed, “Since the election, his behavior has become significantly worse, as he now lacks any restraint whatsoever.”

McConnell also claimed that Trump’s attempts to challenge the election results would negatively impact Republicans in the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, which were crucial for determining control of the chamber. Ultimately, Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won both contests, gaining control.

Trump was described by McConnell as “stupid, ill-tempered, and unable to discern his own best interests.”

Additionally, McConnell labeled Trump a “despicable human being” for “withholding assistance that Americans urgently needed,” a reference to the coronavirus relief package that Trump initially refused to endorse. He eventually approved a stimulus package along with a government spending bill at the end of 2020.

Following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, where a group of Trump’s supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol while lawmakers worked on certification of the election, McConnell stated on the Senate floor that “this failed insurrection only highlights the critical responsibilities we bear for our republic.”

According to the AP, after delivering his speech, McConnell went to his office and addressed his staff members who had been sheltering from the violent situation. He became emotional and thanked them, referring to them as “family.”

Throughout Trump’s presidency, McConnell and Trump often found themselves at odds, from attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act to Trump’s racially charged comments regarding McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who was serving as Transportation Secretary.

While McConnell largely backed Trump publicly during his presidency and his tenure as Senate Majority Leader, he voiced strong criticism following January 6 when the Senate deliberated whether to convict Trump during an impeachment trial. He condemned Trump’s involvement, though he ultimately voted to acquit him.

“There is no doubt that President Trump is practically and morally accountable for inciting the events of that day,” McConnell remarked, emphasizing the chamber’s inability to hold a former president accountable.

Trump has also made derogatory comments about McConnell over the years. After McConnell’s remarks post-January 6, Trump called him a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack.”

Now, McConnell has backed Trump’s campaign for the 2024 presidential election and told the AP that his prior criticisms of Trump “are minor” compared to the public statements made by now-loyal Trump allies such as Senators JD Vance and Lindsey Graham.

“We are all united in this effort now,” McConnell concluded.