Donald Trump returns to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans, his first visit to the area since the January 6, 2021 riots.
The Republican presidential candidate delivered a message of unity heading into November’s presidential election, pledging to “resolve” any lingering differences with his fellow Republicans.
Later in the day, the former president also planned to meet with an association of 200 business leaders.
Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that Trump was “the instigator of insurrection … back at the scene of the crime.”
The visit comes just weeks after Trump was criminally convicted of falsifying business records in a hush-money trial in New York.
He arrived at a Republican office building near the U.S. Capitol on Thursday morning, passing a small group of protesters holding placards that included “Coup failed” and “Democracy forever, Trump never.”
During a brief news conference early Thursday afternoon, Trump said the party was “very united” and vowed to stand with fellow Republicans, even those with whom he has had a sometimes contentious relationship in the past.
“I am with each and every one of you. I will always be with you,” he said. “if [a relationship] It’s not pretty, it will be worked out.
“We have one thing on our minds and that is making our county great again,” he added.
After the press conference, Trump did not take questions from reporters, but waved and gave a thumbs up to a small group of supporters who chanted “I love you.”
“Thank you,” he mouthed back.
After Trump met with House Republicans earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson said the former president “brought extraordinary energy and enthusiasm this morning.”
“This is what we are seeing across parties across the country,” Mr Johnson said. “We believe we will win back the White House and the Senate and increase our majority in the House.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has publicly criticized Trump in the past, called the visit “very positive.”
“He got a lot of standing ovations,” Mr. McConnell added.
In addition to McConnell, two other Trump critics in the party – Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy – also attended.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., described Trump as “very kind” and “warm” to Senate Republicans.
“I think I’ve only been here five years and this is probably the most heated meeting I’ve ever had with a senator and with Trump,” he told reporters.
Hawley said Trump spoke about abortion “many times” at the conference and reiterated his position that voters should decide on the issue.
In an earlier meeting with House Republicans, Trump reportedly called Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which will host the Republican National Convention later this year, “terrible,” prompting his spokesman to clarify , he was referring to crime in the city, not the city itself.
According to Politico, before the visit, Trump called Johnson to urge him to help quash his May 31 conviction in New York on 34 counts of forgery.
“We have to overturn this,” Trump reportedly said in an expletive-laden phone call.
New York Republican Representative Marcus Molinaro told BBC America partner CBS that Trump did not mention the conviction when he met with House Republicans.
Three years ago, Trump urged his supporters to “fight like hell” just hours before rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after failing to prevent the election from being certified.
“Donald Trump came to Capitol Hill today with the same mission to destroy our democracy,” Mrs. Pelosi said in a statement.
“There is no question that Trump has cemented his legacy of shame in our hallowed halls.”
