McConnell stepping down from GOP leadership post, not Senate | Fact check

Andre Byik, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Post implies Mitch McConnell is resigning from Senate

A Feb. 28 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims to share breaking news about U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

"Mitch McConnell resigns," reads the post's caption, which is set against an orange backdrop and fire emojis.

Multiple social media users took the post to mean McConnell, the top Senate Republican, is resigning from his role as a senator.

"Great news, should’ve retired 30 years ago," one user wrote.

"He finally stashed away enough money to retire! None too soon!" wrote another.

The post was shared more than 90 times in less than a day.

More: Mitch McConnell, a colossal figure in Congress, will step down from his leadership post in November

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Our rating: Missing context

The implied claim here is wrong. McConnell is not resigning from the Senate. He announced he will step aside from his role as the Republican Senate leader at the end of the year. McConnell plans to serve out his Senate term, which ends in 2027.

McConnell to step aside from leadership role, remain in Senate

McConnell, the Senate minority leader from Kentucky, announced Feb. 28 that he will step aside as party leader at the end of the year.

“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life's next chapter,” McConnell said in remarks delivered in the well of the Senate. “So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”

But McConnell did not say he is resigning from his position as a senator, as the post implies. The article and others like it note that he plans to serve out his full Senate term, which ends in 2027.

Fact check: False claim that video shows Sen. McConnell calling for Speaker Pelosi to be 'jailed'

McConnell said he will remain in his Senate leadership role until a new party leader is selected in November and takes the helm in January, according to video of his statement published by C-SPAN.

"I'll finish the job the people of Kentucky hired me to do as well, albeit from a different seat," McConnell said.

McConnell, 82, began his first term in the Senate in 1985. He became party leader in 2006 and is the longest-serving Senate leader in history, the Associated Press reported.

The Facebook user who shared the post did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McConnell stepping down from leadership post, not Senate | Fact check