Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he advised Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump to discourage the violence erupting at his rallies after the billionaire contacted him this week.
“He called me,” McConnell said in an afternoon press conference Tuesday. “I mentioned to him that I thought it would be a good idea for him, no matter who starts these violent episodes, to condemn it and discourage it.”
McConnell would not tell reporters how Trump responded.
“I believe that the candidates ought to be discouraging, no matter who starts the fight,” McConnell said.
When asked what it said about Trump that he had to be reminded to condemn violence, McConnell said “one thing I thought you guys had learned was I am pretty good about not answering questions I don’t want to answer.”
