Mitch McConnell laughs off Steve Bannon's threats to oust him from Republican leadership

Mr Bannon says he is running an 'insurgency movement' against the Republican Party's establishment

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Getty Images)

Mitch McConnell, the US Senate's most senior Republican, has laughed off Steve Bannon's threats to oust him.

The executive at right wing news website Breitbart, told The New York Times that it was his "objective" to remove the upper house's majority leader.

"I believe will be done before this time next year,” he said, adding that Mr McConnell "has to go".

Mr McConnell said he "laughed" at the comments, adding that it was "a perfect response”.

Mr Bannon has repeatedly called for senators he claims are blocking Donald Trump’s agenda to be unseated.

Over the weekend he called on The Zionist Organization of America to join his “insurgency movement” against the Republican Party establishment/

In a fiery address at their New York gala, he said they to join him and “work as partners" in his challenge against incumbents in the US President's own party.

Earlier this year, he played a hand in getting Roy Moore, a controversial former judge, elected to be the Republican party’s nominee in a special senatorial election in Alabama.

Mr Moore, known for making strong anti-gay and anti-Muslim comments, pummelled Republican Senator Luther Strange in the primary race.

Mr Strange, who was backed by Mr McConnell and Mr Trump, had been selected in February to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Jeff Sessions became Attorney General.

While on the campaign trail to defeat Mr Strange, Mr Moore said Mr McConnell was an obstacle to a more conservative agenda.

But a number of Republicans have called on Mr Moore to step down after The Washington Post published an extensive report alleging that Mr Moore had pursued underage girls.

It claimed the 70-year-old judge had initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32. Three other women also alleged that Mr Moore made advances on them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s, but indicated that he had not attempted to initiate sexual contact with them. Those women ranged in age from 16 to 18.

Mr Moore has continued to deny the allegations – declaring at a campaign stop in Alabama that the accusations against him were part of a conspiracy between Democrats, the Republican establishment and the media. However, many Republicans have begun to distance themselves from the candidate and have even called for him to step down.

Mr McConnell has declined to say whether he would seat Mr Moore to the Senate if elected.

Since Mr Moore hails from a deeply conservative state, many still expect him to win the race on December 12. But there is uncertainty over how having him in the Senate will affect the Republican party’s reputation.

On Friday, the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm withdrew from a joint-fundraising agreement with Mr Moore's campaign.

“This is what happens when you let reckless, incompetent idiots like Steve Bannon go out and recruit candidates who have absolutely no business running for the US Senate,” Josh Holmes, a former aide to Mr McConnell, told the Times.