Which might seem trite — unless you know that McConnell never says anything without a) thinking it through first and b) meaning exactly what he says. Given that, it’s fair to read McConnell’s response as a kind of “come on in, the water’s fine” moment, an attempt to ensure that would-be Republican candidates aren’t spooked by Trump’s presence in the race. It also stands in direct contrast to how Trump has talked about his candidacy — and the 2024 race more broadly.

  1. He has it all, but he has announced that he is a candidate. “Well, in my mind, I’ve already made that decision, so nothing affects it anymore,” Trump said of another White House offer in a recent interview with New York magazine. “In my own mind, I’ve already made that decision.”
  2. Rejects other potential contenders. Of Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, Trump said this in the same interview: “I endorsed Ron, he was at 3 and once I endorsed him, he went to first place, he wasn’t going to win.” Trump, despite his boast that he essentially “fixed” DeSandis, is clearly aware of the fact that recent polling has shown the Florida governor to be his closest challenger. And he knows he’s being hurt by the ongoing Jan. 6 hearings. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that about half of those who plan to vote in the 2024 GOP primary would prefer someone other than Trump as the party’s nominee. At least part of Trump’s stated interest in getting into the race before the 2022 midterms are over is to stake his claim and dare anyone else to challenge him. McConnell knows this — and is working to address it. Whether any major candidates — DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence — end up participating is, of course, beyond the control of both Trump and McConnell. And whether a candidate can actually beat Trump is a question no one can answer right now. The point: McConnell clearly prefers someone other than Trump as the party’s nominee in 2024, so he’s doing everything he can to encourage them not to be intimidated by the former President from running.