Democrats heap scorn on Trump's first post-Jan. 6 Capitol visit
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Former President Trump at the Capitol Hill Club on June 13, 2024. Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images.
Former President Trump's first visit to Capitol Hill since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was met with fierce disdain from Democratic lawmakers.
Why it matters: For members of Congress in both parties, memories of the violence of Jan. 6 are still fresh. While Republicans have largely absolved the former president, most Democrats aren't so quick to forgive.
Driving the news: Trump huddled with House Republicans on Thursday morning at the Capitol Hill Club, just blocks away from the Capitol.
- In wide-ranging remarks, Trump praised his loyalists and slammed Republican detractors, especially those who voted to impeach him over Jan. 6.
- The former president is set to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill later on Thursday.
What they're saying: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told Axios that Trump "should be returning to the Hill to apologize to the nearly 150 officers who were injured and wounded by the attack that he unleashed against us."
- Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios it is "insulting for the men and women who protected the Capitol with their lives to have to watch him come up to the Hill and pretend the insurrection never happened."
- "His coming back to Capitol Hill should remind us all what happened on Jan. 6," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
Zoom in: The Biden campaign released a barrage of statements from House Democrats slamming the visit.
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Trump came to "hang out with the very same MAGA extremists who acted as his proxies on January 6th."
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who served on the Jan. 6 committee with Raskin, said: "We must hope and pray that [Republicans] do not reap the despotic whirlwind they attempt to sow."
- Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said: "Today [Trump's] enablers welcomed him back. Trump is an existential threat to democracy and unfit to lead. This moment demands political courage."
The Democratic National Committee went so far as to deploy a mobile billboard outside Trump's Business Roundtable meeting calling him "unfit" for office.
Between the lines: Democrats hope that Trump's stain will rub off on the rank-and-file Republicans – including many in swing districts – with whom he is meeting.
- "Everybody at that meeting knows that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the Constitution and our republic, and they have seen what he is capable of," said Raskin.
- "The Republican party continues to be the Trump cult," said Blumenthal.
- Balint told Axios, "He and the House GOP truly have no shame."
The other side: Many Republicans praised the former president and said his visit was helpful for them both politically and legislatively.
- Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) described the speech as "very positive" and "energizing" for House Republicans.
- "The message was unity: we have to win. We have to win the White House, we have to win the Senate, we have to grow the majority in the House," said Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.).
The bottom line: Trump "is already the Republican House driver of politics, policy, and discussion," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).
- "He is simply here to further mark his domain."
