Tucker Carlson angrily accuses Senate Republicans of plotting ‘coup’ against Trump

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former Fox News host and Trump ally Tucker Carlson claimed Senate Republicans are staging “a coup” against Donald Trump as three Senators vie to replace Mitch McConnell. open image in gallery Senator Rick Scott got Carlson’s backing for Senate Majority Leader Back in February, after McConnell announced he would be stepping down at the end of the year, Donald Trump Jr also labeled Thune and Cornyn as “RINOs,” or Republicans in name only. MAGA must do everything in our power to stop either of these two RINOs from ever becoming Senate Leader!” Trump also previously slammed Cornyn after he successfully negotiated bipartisan gun safety legislation, claiming the Texas Senator facilitated “the first step in the movement to TAKE YOUR GUNS AWAY.” open image in gallery Senator John Cornyn is also vying to become the next Senate Majority Leader On Friday, the National Association for Gun Rights also issued a statement against Cornyn: “The arch traitor John Cornyn is being floated as the next Senate Majority Leader. Meanwhile, the South Dakota Senator told CNBC on Thursday that while he understood that Trump could “exert a considerable amount of influence” on the Senate leadership race, “my preference would be, and I think it’s probably in his best interest, to stay out of that.” He continued: “These Senate secret ballot elections are probably best left to senators, and he’s got to work with all of us when it’s all said and done.” Thune received the support of Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, according to Punchbowl News.