Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) stuck to his strategy Monday of trying to move Republicans past the Donald Trump era and the contentious 2020 election even as the former president remains a force in next year’s contests.

“There always are a lot of voices,” Mr. McConnell said at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit, when asked about Mr. Trump’s role in the midterms. Keeping his focus on recapturing the Senate, which is split 50-50, Mr. McConnell said that if he were advising Senate candidates, “I’d be talking about what this administration is doing and how do you feel about it, because the American people are looking to the future.”

Mr. McConnell declined to say whether he had spoke to Mr. Trump since January. “I don’t have anything to say,” said Mr. McConnell. “Nice try,” he added. Reminded that Mr. Trump has been very critical of Mr. McConnell, he replied: “You get that impression.” He didn’t elaborate.