Trump, McConnell finally meet again, with a fist bump
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Former President Trump leaves the Capitol Hill Club on Thursday after delivering remarks to House Republicans. Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images
After going years without speaking to Donald Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) joined fellow Republicans in meeting with the ex-president Thursday— and the two shared a fist bump.
Why it matters: The two GOP leaders hadn't spoken since December 2020 — just before a mob of Trump supporters crashed into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to try to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.
- In the aftermath of that riot, McConnell said on the Senate floor that Trump was "practically and morally responsible for provoking the events" of Jan. 6.
Thursday, Trump was back in D.C. — and the ice between the ex-president and McConnell melted, at least a little.
- After Trump addressed the senators, McConnell and Trump approached each other. There were thumbs-up and fist bumps, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who invited Trump to speak to the GOP conference, told reporters.
- "It was warm and cordial," one source in the room told Axios. "Trump commended McConnell for efforts to grow the Senate majority over the years."
- The ex-president also blamed the abortion issue as the reason Republicans lost the majority in the Senate in 2022, months after the conservative-led Supreme Court overturned the abortion rights established in Roe v. Wade.
- Trump has praised that decision but made clear in his talks with Republicans that he doesn't want to campaign on it.
Between the lines: McConnell did not join the couple dozen senators who flanked Trump at a press conference after their meeting.
- "This was a great meeting. There's tremendous unity in the Republican Party," Trump said.
- McConnell endorsed Trump as the GOP presidential nominee earlier this year.
Zoom in: Barrasso told reporters the reason for the meeting was so they would "be prepared to go the day that he gets into the White House. So we'll be prepared, ready and have a plan to get a strong cabinet confirmed, and to make sure that the agenda that's going to get America back on track can be moved forward quickly."
- Ending the filibuster and the upcoming Senate leadership elections did not come up in the meeting.
- Trump discussed removing taxes on employee tips, which earned applause from senators in the room.
- Barrasso also said that there was a lot of discussion about American energy, "because affordable energy is a real key to a successful economy and to lowering costs for families."
Another source in the room described it as "very positive energy," adding that Trump discussed issues ranging from national security to energy to inflation to 2024 congressional races.
- Trump talked favorably of those on his VP shortlist, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio) as effective surrogates, according to one attendee.
- He praised Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as better at stumping for Trump than himself.
The senators had an American flag birthday cake for Trump, whose birthday is Friday. He'll be 78.
- "45" candles were lit, referencing Trump as the 45th president, and then Barasso added two more candles that read "47" because "we're all committed to make sure he becomes the 47th president," Barrasso said.
