MCCONNELL: Anyone who thinks Trump and I are fighting is 'clearly not part of the conversation'

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donald trump mitch mcconnell

Joshua Roberts/Reuters

US President-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up sign as he walks with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attempted Wednesday to brush back reports of a growing feud with President Donald Trump.

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In a statement, McConnell said he and Trump were working toward a unified agenda and suggested that reports of a strain in their relationship were exaggerated.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we are committed to advancing our shared agenda together, and anyone who suggests otherwise is clearly not part of the conversation," he said.

The statement follows a New York Times report Tuesday that detailed a widening rift in the pair's relationship.The report said Trump berated McConnell on the phone after the Senate healthcare bill failed and that McConnell has expressed doubts about whether Trump could salvage his presidency.

The spat has also played out publicly, however, as Trump repeatedly attacked McConnell via Twitter and in public remarks after McConnell said the president had "excessive expectations" around the healthcare process.

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Despite the public aspects of the quarrel, McConnell said in his statement that the two are unified behind the GOP agenda.

"The President and I, and our teams, have been and continue to be in regular contact about our shared goals," the statement said, reiterating that the two sides were working on items like tax reform and raising the debt ceiling.

Republicans have expressed concern that acrimony between the two could lead to mixed messages and a stalled agenda.