Former President Donald Trump revved up congressional Republicans and made amends with former GOP foes in a whirlwind swing through Capitol Hill on Thursday that cemented his position as party leader.
Former President Donald Trump revved up congressional Republicans and made amends with former opponents in a whirlwind swing through Capitol Hill on Thursday that cemented his position as party leader.
Mr. Trump held what lawmakers described as a “pep rally” for House Republicans, followed by a “warm” and “upbeat” meeting with Senate Republicans.
It was Mr. Trump’s first visit to the Capitol campus since his angry supporters stormed the building on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to block the certification of Joseph R. Biden’s presidential election victory.
Many congressional lawmakers shunned Mr. Trump after his bitter election loss and the riot, but his overwhelming victories in the Republican presidential primaries and his position atop the polls have garnered near-unanimous loyalty again.
By the time he departed Capitol Hill, Republicans had all but banished lingering questions and divisions with the former president.
“That was as much unity as you’re going to get among Republicans that I’ve seen in a long time,” Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana told The Washington Times after the hourlong Senate meeting.
Mr. Trump refrained from leveling barbs at his Republican critics, even Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict him after his impeachment on charges that he incited the Capitol riot.
