Former President Donald Trump gathered Thursday morning with House Republicans at the Capitol Hill Club to talk politics and strategy just five months out from the election, according to lawmakers in the room who spoke with the Caller.
Trump was greeted by House Republicans singing him Happy Birthday one day before he turns 78 years old, and was gifted the game ball from the Republicans’ 31-11 victory in Wednesday’s Congressional Baseball Game before he spoke.
Trump joked that the performance of the Democrats’ outfield in the game was a bigger help to Republicans than anything they could have done themselves.
During Trump’s remarks, he mentioned The Washington Post’s readership being down 50 percent, and was met by cheers.
Trump then mentioned that he plans on doing 100 tele town halls for House candidates, and called the tele town halls a “secret weapon,” according to a source familiar in the room.
SOURCE in the room tells @DailyCaller there was a cheers when Trump said the Washington Post readership is down 50%
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) June 13, 2024
At one point during the discussion, Trump took a shot at political operative Jeff Roe, saying Roe does surgery on candidate’s wallets. Roe backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ primary bid against Trump and was widely criticized for racking up big dollars without delivering positive results. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Inside The Republican National Convention, A Look At The Massive Stage Set-Up Where Trump Will Accept The Nomination)
US Capitol police officers hold back media and protesters as former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at the House Republican Conference where he will meet with US House Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 13, 2024. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The former president also made an interesting remark about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Trump claimed that Pelosi’s daughter told him the two would’ve made a good pair had they not been involved in politics, but Trump joked that he thinks Pelosi is much older than he is. The California Democrat is 84.
Trump then took a jab at those who voted to impeach him, saying all but one had been removed from office. The source told the Caller that Trump was forgetting about Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans Demand Comms Between Cassidy Hutchinson, Fani Willis’ Office For J6 Investigation)
The 2024 frontrunner also told House Republicans that tariffs will be a top priority.
Trump weighed in on the changes to the Republican National Committee (RNC), saying Michael Whatley and Lara Trump have totally transformed the RNC, and noted that he chose Whatley because of his performance as NCGOP Chair.
Since the changes, the RNC and the Trump campaign have seen their best fundraising success of the cycle so far, shattering their own donation website following Trump’s conviction in Manhattan. (RELATED: Biden’s One Big Election Advantage Is Quickly Being Erased)
SOURCE in the room tells @DailyCaller that Trump says that Michael Whatley and Lara Trump have totally transformed the RNC, notes he chose Whatley because of his performance as NCGOP Chair.
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) June 13, 2024
After his remarks, Trump took questions from the lawmakers, many of whom just thanked and praised him.
Trump will now meet with Senate Republicans at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
(This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.)
