Former President Donald Trump made his presence known as he led House Republicans in a spirited closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill Thursday. Amidst grievances about his legal battles and election challenges, the former president took aim at his critics and only briefly touched on policy topics such as abortion and taxes. This marked Trump’s first return to the Capitol area since the events of January 6, 2021.
During the meeting, Trump lashed out at those who have opposed him, including some who were in the room, cautioning Republicans not to shy away from the contentious issue of abortion. He highlighted the dwindling number of House Republicans who had voted to impeach him, specifically targeting GOP Rep. David Valadao of California.
In a somewhat playful moment, Trump advised GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to be kind to House Speaker Mike Johnson, reflecting the tension within the party. The former president also addressed the recent guilty verdict against him, expressing concerns about the federal government being “weaponized.”
Despite these challenges, Trump’s allies in Congress showed unwavering support, even proposing bold measures such as defunding the Department of Justice. In a bid to rally behind their leader, House Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.
Trump urged Republicans to address abortion issues with conviction, emphasizing exceptions for cases such as rape, incest, and the life of the mother. The former president also touched on various other priorities including eliminating tip taxes and halting aid for Ukraine, aligning himself with his party’s stance on these issues.
In a somewhat controversial moment, Trump referred to Milwaukee as “horrible” while discussing crime rates, prompting clarifications from Wisconsin Republicans present in the room. The former president also made offhand remarks about political figures such as Nancy Pelosi’s daughter and popstar Taylor Swift.
Despite these moments, Trump’s meeting with Senate Republicans later in the day struck a more unifying tone. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has had a strained relationship with the former president, described the meeting as positive and commended Trump for his leadership within the party.
Overall, Trump’s return to Capitol Hill showcased his strong influence within the Republican Party, with lawmakers expressing their continued support and optimism for the future.
