McConnell's decision, confirmed to The Hill by a GOP senator, comes hours before the Senate is expected to take a final vote on whether to convict Trump of "high crimes and misdemeanors" over an article accusing him of inciting insurrection during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
McConnell has criticized Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, including saying the former president "provoked" the mob. He disclosed to reporters last month that he hadn't spoken to Trump, with whom he aligned himself closely for years, since Dec. 15.
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But he also kept his caucus guessing on how he would ultimately vote, saying that he wanted to listen to the arguments from both House impeachment managers and Trump's legal team.