Some Republicans will skip Trump’s visit to Capitol
By
Ramsey Touchberry
June 13, 2024 7:00 am
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There will be notable absences on Thursday when presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump meets with Senate Republicans in Washington, D.C., for the first time since leaving the White House.
Some centrist Republican senators who oppose the former president told the Washington Examiner they plan to skip the meeting due to unspecified scheduling conflicts, much to the chagrin of GOP leaders who are billing the event as a chance to build party unity heading into the election.
Notably, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will attend despite his frosty relationship with the former president and no contact between the two since before the 2021 Capitol riot.
“I said three years ago, right after the Capitol was attacked, that I would support our nominee, regardless of who it was, including him,” McConnell told reporters Wednesday. “I’ve said earlier this year I support him. He’s earned the nomination by the voters all across the country, and of course, I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow.”
McConnell endorsed Trump in March, a stunning reversal from previously blaming him for “disgraceful” acts on Jan. 6, 2021, and after Trump’s attacks against the senator’s wife, former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, that have been panned as racist.
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told the Washington Examiner they won’t attend because of busy schedules. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said he won’t either because he has a flight to catch.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3040658/trump-faces-gop-boycotts-meeting-senate-republicans/