Former President Donald Trump on Thursday touted “great unity” among Republicans after meeting privately with GOP senators, including a trio of outspoken critics.
Leaving the one-hour meeting, Mr. Trump lavished praise on Republican senators at a brief press conference held at the Senate GOP’s political headquarters near the Capitol.
“We have great unity. We have great common sense,” Mr. Trump said, flanked by a crowd of GOP senators. “A lot of smart people in the room.”
Mr. Trump’s Senate visit was more low-key than an earlier “pep rally” with House GOP lawmakers. But the message from lawmakers was the same: The former president, once shunned by the party after the post-election strife and the riot at the Capitol three years ago, is firmly in command of the GOP once again.
“Look, he is the choice of our voters overwhelmingly,” Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, said after the meeting. “It shows that he is absolutely the leader of the party. You have people who have vociferously opposed him who are sitting right next to him in the room.”
Among those who attended the meeting was the former president’s longtime political nemesis, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Mr. McConnell sat next to Mr. Trump.
The two have not spoken since January 2021, when Mr. Trump was attempting to block the certification of President Biden’s election victory. Mr. McConnell later rebuked Mr. Trump in a floor speech, accusing him of instigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol. Mr. Trump has since then lodged insults at Mr. McConnell and Mr. McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who had served as Mr. Trump’s transportation secretary.
Mr. McConnell had at one point ruled out Mr. Trump as head of the party, but the ex-president is now the frontrunner in a rematch with President Biden and his down-ballot influence could help flip the Senate back to GOP control.
At the meeting, Mr. Trump shook hands with Mr. McConnell and the two spoke briefly, according to senators who witnessed it.
Mr. McConnell, who will not run for another term leading the conference, later told reporters the meeting was “entirely positive” and focused on policy.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, who is vying to replace Mr. McConnell as GOP leader and who has fielded public criticism from Mr. Trump, sat on the other side of the former president.
Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, gave Mr. Trump, the 45th president, a birthday cake decorated with “45” and “47,” his number if he wins a second term.
Mr. Trump refrained from leveling barbs at anyone in the room, even sparing Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Both lawmakers voted in 2021 to convict Mr. Trump on charges he instigated the Capitol riot.
“His tone was extremely warm,” Mr. Hawley said. “Very upbeat.”
Mr. Romney, a longtime critic of Mr. Trump who in May said he would not vote for him for president, said wasn’t planning to show up at the Trump huddle, but his trip to South Florida was scrapped due to a tropical storm sweeping through the peninsula.
“I have no comment on the meeting,” Mr. Romney said. “I attended because my flight got canceled.”
Mr. Trump seemed content with putting his past clashes with the Senate GOP behind him. He said the GOP is focused on “making our country great,” and that lawmakers are focused on winning in November.
“I’ve had a really great relationship with just about everybody here, with everybody here. Just about all of the senators,” Mr. Trump said. “And if it wasn’t fantastic, it gets worked out.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.