Sen. Mitch McConnell’s days of fierce party loyalty are gone as the former top Republican, free of his longtime leadership duties, forges a new reputation as a rebel in the Senate.

It’s only been six weeks since Mr. McConnell stepped out of the leader role that he held for 18 years, but he has already voted against his party three times, opposing President Trump’s most unconventional Cabinet-level nominees.

Mr. McConnell was the sole Republican to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday, a day after he also stood alone among the GOP to oppose Tulsi Gabbard’s confirmation as director of national intelligence.

Last month, Mr. McConnell was one of three Republicans — along with Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — to vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Vice President J.D. Vance had to step in and break a 50-50 tie to ensure Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation.

Mr. Trump, who has not gotten along with Mr. McConnell since the Kentucky Republican spoke out against him in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, took credit for the senator dropping out of leadership and suggested his votes against nominees are retribution for that. 

“I was the one that got him to drop out of the leadership position, so he can’t love me,” Mr. Trump said. “But he’s not voting against Bob [Kennedy]. He’s voting against me. But that’s alright.”

Some of Mr. McConnell’s Senate colleagues agreed his votes against Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Hegseth were an affront to the president.

“He doesn’t believe in Trump’s agenda. He doesn’t like Trump,” said Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr. McConnell for the GOP leader role after the 2022 election cycle.

Mr. McConnell issued lengthy statements explaining why he thought the three nominees were not up for the enormous roles for which they were nominated.

For Mr. Kennedy, it was a record of “trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions” that turned off Mr. McConnell. He also cited his personal experience as a childhood polio survivor as a reason he could “not condone the re-litigation of proven cures.”

Mr. McConnell even threw a compliment Mr. Trump’s way in his explanation. 

“This administration – led by the same president who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed – deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. health care system,” he said. 

That didn’t stop the president from expressing his view that Mr. McConnell “is a very bitter guy” who “has lost his power” in the Republican Party.

“I feel sorry for Mitch,” Mr. Trump said. “He wanted to go to the end and he wanted to stay leader. He’s not equipped mentally. He wasn’t equipped 10 years ago mentally, in my opinion. He let the Republican Party go to hell.”

Mr. McConnell, who turns 83 next week, has shown signs of physical decline, walking more slowly and falling on several occasions in recent years. He arrived at the Capitol this week in a wheelchair and sporting a boot.

But colleagues have repeatedly said Mr. McConnell has remained mentally sharp, even after two occasions in the summer of 2023 where he froze, unable to finish his thoughts when speaking with the press.

Inside the Senate, Mr. McConnell still garners a lot of respect and his views on certain issues he’s long championed, like the national defense and maintaining U.S. alliances abroad, still carry weight. 

But some senators are perplexed that he hasn’t been more helpful to the GOP leadership team he long led.

“Sen. [John] Thune was extremely loyal to Mitch. And when Mitch made a play call, it seemed like Sen. Thune would always go along — and sometimes making a very difficult situation for him and back home,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma Republican, said. “I don’t see that same loyalty being returned.”

“But at the same time, Mitch has been here a long time. He adds a lot to our conference still,” he said. “ And he controls his vote, just like every other member here.”

Mr. Thune, who served as the No. 2 to Mr. McConnell before winning the leadership election to replace him as GOP leader, offered a muted reaction to Mr. McConnell opposing three of the president’s top nominees.  

“Well, none of those was a surprise,” Mr. Thune said. “He’s been very forward about where he is on some of the noms.”

Mr. McConnell is up for reelection in 2026 and has not said whether he will run for another term, but his votes suggest he is not concerned about politics back home.

Nate Morris, a Kentucky businessman who is “seriously looking at” running for Senate, wrote on X that Mr. McConnell is “openly trying to sabotage President Trump” by opposing his nominees.

“Time to take out the trash,” he said.

Earlier in the week, before Mr. McConnell had cast his votes against Mr. Kennedy or Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Morris posted a video complaining about other potential Senate candidates who are waiting to see whether Mr. McConnell retires before making a decision.

“If you’re asking for permission from Mitch McConnell to run for the Senate here in Kentucky, then you shouldn’t be running in the first place, because you’re not running for the right reasons,” he said. “Mitch McConnell unfortunately has sold Kentucky conservatives out for years now. He’s turned his back on us and he’s turned his back on Trump.”

The video drew the attention of Donald Trump Jr., who reposted it, saying, “If you’re running for office, especially in Kentucky, and you want my support, don’t even bother reaching out to me unless you’re willing to publicly oppose Mitch McConnell like this.”

• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.