#MoscowMitchMcTreason trends after McConnell defends blocking election security bills

The hashtag #MoscowMitchMcTreason began trending on Twitter Tuesday morning after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) fired back against the nickname “Moscow Mitch” in a fiery speech from the Senate floor.

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, a former GOP lawmaker, dubbed McConnell “Moscow Mitch” after McConnell on Friday blocked two election security measures. 

The hashtag #MoscowMitch quickly began trending on Twitter following Scarborough’s comments.

McConnell responded on Monday, decrying the attacks against him as “modern-day McCarthyism.”

“I was called unpatriotic, un-American and essentially treasonous by a couple of left-wing pundits on the basis of bold-faced lies. I was accused of aiding and abetting the very man I’ve singled out as an adversary and opposed for nearly 20 years, Vladimir Putin,” McConnell said.

“These pundits are lying, lying when they dismiss the work that has been done. They’re lying when they insist I have personally blocked actions which, in fact, I have championed and the Senate has passed,” he added. “They are lying when they suggest that either party is against defending our democracy.”

Social media users, however, doubled down on their tweets criticizing the senator. Both the hashtags #MoscowMitchMcTreason and #MoscowMitchUnAmericanTraitor began to trend across the United States.

“The Breakfast Club” radio host Charlamagne tha God wrote that it “feels good” to wake up and see the phrase trending nationally.

“These guys are blatantly openly working with the Russians to keep power and until I saw that trending I thought nobody cared. AMERICA your illegitimate president is a Russian agent. #FightTheFascists,” he wrote on Twitter.

It feels good to wake up and see #MoscowMitchMcTreason number one trending. These guys are blatantly openly working with the Russians to keep power and until I saw that trending I thought nobody cared. AMERICA your illegitimate president is a Russian agent. #FightTheFascists

— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) July 30, 2019

Grant Stern, an author and podcast host for Occupy Democrats, wrote that it was obvious that Scarborough “struck a nerve” when he coined the nickname.

“When the Senate ‘leader’ responded, he proved Joe’s 100 right by  spouting the Kremlin line that investigating Putin’s help to Trump is McCarthyism.”

When @JoeNBC coined the nickname #MoscowMitch, it was obvious that he struck a nerve because it went viral.

When the Senate “leader” responded, he proved Joe’s right by spouting the Kremlin line that investigating Putin’s help to Trump is McCarthyism.#MoscowMitchMcTreason

— Grant Stern (@grantstern) July 30, 2019

Hundreds of other used the hashtags to mock or criticize McConnell, some even picturing him dressed in Soviet-era uniforms.

I hear you dislike being called #MoscowMitchMcTreason ? Well, I dislike you not allowing a vote on election security so quite frankly, I don’t give a damn if you’re uncomfortable by it. History will not be kind to you, Mr. Bitch McTurtle. Or MoscowMitch – whichever you prefer pic.twitter.com/OFUZknP7Mw

— Alondra Jimenez (@Alondra71613310) July 30, 2019

I’ve never seen such a DESERVING title for a man that is so un-American and un-Patriotic. He has never given a damn about anything other than consolidating power. Can we begin to up donations to @AmyMcGrathKY so she can kick his ass out of the Senate? #MoscowMitchMcTreason

— DanielleMoodie-Mills (@DeeTwoCents) July 30, 2019

Don’t forget #MoscowMich #MoscowMitchMcTreason @GOP pic.twitter.com/brs7iPrGUV

— James O’Hanlon (@NickFurious92) July 29, 2019

Commie lover Moscow Mitch doesn’t like us calling him that. #MoscowMitchMcTreason #MoscowMitchMcConnell https://t.co/rhJZl0IUz6

— Jody Hamilton (@fromthebunkerjr) July 29, 2019

Years of birtherism, Benghazi, Buttery Males, and more – but being called out on your blatant obstruction of election interference and more is the birth of a new age in McCarthyism. Talk about triggered. That’s the ultimate snowflake move. #MoscowMitch #MoscowMitchMcTreason pic.twitter.com/cKK6IdcbVU

— Inactive Joke Bot (@WhereTheNamesAt) July 30, 2019