Seeking to unite his party ahead of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump met with almost 200 House Republicans in Washington on Thursday, pledging to secure the nation’s borders and lead the party to victory in the fall presidential election.
Advertisement
“As Donald Trump runs a campaign pitting Americans against each other and pushing ideas that threaten our country’s security, Republicans in Congress are just standing by him”, the narrator says.
Ribble says instead Trump spoke only of himself and simply lectured members about getting on board with his campaign. Cornyn said. He added that Trump made “an interesting point” that he’s generated a lot of enthusiasm and tapped into something that no Republican nominee for president has done before. “Donald asked me to speak at the Republican convention and I told him I would be happy to do so”, Cruz told ABC News.
“Obviously I’m very familiar with Donald and his positions, I just came off an 11-month campaign where he was one of my opponents”, said Rubio, who was often mocked by Trump as “Little Marco”.
Cruz’s camp also said Trump asked the conservative senator at the meeting to serve as an adviser to potential Trump administration judicial nominations. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has refused to endorse him?
According to the Washington Post’s account, Trump was the one who picked the fight, complaining about Flake’s criticisms. It was the first meeting between the bitter rivals since the senator suspended his presidential campaign in May. Trump drew 41 of 54 Republican senators to the U.S. Senate meeting.
During his remarks, Trump boasted of a million fundraising haul in June and assailed the media for what he said was dishonest reporting about him, including recent remarks appearing to praise former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, The Hill reported.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, in a tough re-election race, told reporters she had to attend a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at the same time as Trump’s appearance.
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, one of several Arizona lawmakers at the House meeting, was more enthusiastic, describing Trump as “charismatic” and “upbeat” in the meeting. He was very emphatic about this: “‘I will not let you down'”. After their heated back and forth, Trump reportedly threatened to go after Flake publicly and ensure his defeat in 2016 – which led the Arizona senator to remind Trump that he’s not actually going to be on the ballot in 2016.
Meanwhile, a House GOP aide estimated 215 out of the 248 House Republicans met with Trump on Thursday.
Advertisement
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) tried to play down the tense exchanges in the meeting, telling reporters that for 50 minutes of it there were intense policy discussions.
