House Republicans are set to hold a private meeting with former President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking his return to Capitol Hill for the first time since the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by his supporters. Trump, who is the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, will also meet separately with Senate Republicans during his visit.
The meeting with House Republicans was announced by House GOP Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik. This encounter comes at a crucial time for Trump, as he faces legal challenges, including an upcoming sentencing related to the hush money trial.
While the Trump campaign did not officially confirm the meeting with House Republicans, a senior campaign official indicated that the Senate meeting will focus on policy issues, such as tax cuts.
Trump's return to the GOP campaign offices near the Capitol coincides with his ongoing legal battles, including a federal indictment for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results. Despite these legal challenges, most Republicans have thrown their support behind Trump as he prepares for a potential rematch against President Joe Biden.
Notably, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP leaders, who had criticized Trump following the events of January 6, have now endorsed him for the upcoming election. Many Republicans in Congress have also joined Trump in questioning the U.S. justice system's handling of the cases against him.
In a recent development, Trump became the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of felony crimes when a New York jury convicted him on all charges related to a hush money payment made to a porn actor in connection with the 2016 election.