An emboldended Donald Trump returned Thursday to the halls of Congress for the first time since his presidency. He was set to meet with top-ranked politicians at the Senate GOP’s headquarters.
Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., planned to meet with the former president, and McConnell has become known for his chilly relationship to Trump.
“Of course I’ll be at the meeting,” McConnell said.
McConnell once stood on the Senate floor to call Trump “practically and morally responsible” for the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Granted, McConnell voted against removing Trump from office, and he’s since has since endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign for president.
Still, McConnell hasn’t met with Trump since December 2020.
Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told The Associated Press that he was interested in hearing from Trump about the fall election. Thune is vying to succeed McConnell as the Senate GOP’s leader.
“I think there’s an opportunity there to really make this a big win,” he said.
Of the Republicans who voted to remove Trump after Jan. 6, only a few remain in office.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, were not expected to attend Thursday’s closed-door session with Trump. Meanwhile, the retiring Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, had a change of plans and was to join.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., also planned to meet Trump at the Senate Republicans’ campaign headquarters. “He’s going to be the next president,” Cassidy predicted. “So you have to work.”
Cassidy sidestepped a question about the direction of the GOP.
“Let the day’s own troubles be sufficient for the day,” Cassidy said. “You can fill yourself up with anxiety about tomorrow, but will it change a thing? No.”
McConnell is set to retire as Senate GOP leader, although he may still remain in the Senate until the end of his term in 2027.
As of Thursday afternoon, Trump has already met with the House.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.