Donald Trump offered assurances to skeptical GOP lawmakers Thursday that they all share the same Republican Party goals, but his first appearance before rank-and-file lawmakers failed to soothe concerns about his undisciplined campaign.
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Trump held separate meetings with both the House and Senate caucuses on a sweltering summer day as he tried to continue to unify the GOP behind him.
It’s little wonder then that Trump is raising so little money, that so few elected officials have endorsed him yet and that nearly no one of outcome wants to speak at his nominating convention, let alone be his vice presidential candidate.
Cruz says there was no talk of any endorsement at this morning’s meeting with Trump.
According to media reports, Trump told Flake that he would work against his reelection, and Flake responded that he wasn’t up for reelection until 2018. If you are as alarmed as I that Donald Trump could become president, please join the Free the Delegates movement and immediately contact the SC GOP and our delegates and kindly encourage them to join the other delegates who are firmly standing and refusing to rubber stamp an unqualified man.
Sen. Mark Kirk of IL, who wasn’t in Thursday’s meeting, fired back at Trump, who reportedly called him a loser during the private gathering.
“We had a great meeting”, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said after the session he described as an opportunity for House members “to get additional information about Mr. Trump’s campaign and ask questions”.
Trump also singled out Sen. Trump, according to South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford, said he wanted to defend all, from 1, 2, 3 to 12. Rep Adam Kinzinger of IL, an Iraq War veteran, grimaced at Trump’s unprompted mention of the Saddam controversy. Trump called him a loser and said he would win his state of IL anyway.
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, who has pointedly refused to endorse Trump, reportedly confronted the Republican nominee.
Collins said he blamed Trump’s missteps, including the outcry over his Saddam Hussein comments, on Democrats and unfriendly journalists.
Kirk initially endorsed Trump, but took it back amid some of Trump’s more controversial statements.
“If you look at the trajectory of his unforced errors, he’s getting better”, said Rep. Bill Flores of Texas. Asked if Trump could win his home state in November, Kirk said, “I don’t think so”.
There was a more cooperative tone inside Trump’s meeting with House Republicans.
The gatherings come less than two weeks before a GOP convention that a number of leading Republicans are skipping, including some in Congress.
Louisiana Rep. John Fleming said he believes Trump was very persuasive in gaining members support.
Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who said he was “uncomfortable” with Trump’s language, gave him a pass on the Constitution flub.
And based on accounts of the people inside, things got pretty tense. Trump has praised the former Iraqi dictator for being “so good” at killing terrorists while adding that is all he thinks was good about a “bad guy, really bad guy”.
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Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said he could sense some hesitation in the room, his own included.
