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Trump meets with RNC in Washington
After two days of wild statements, the real estate mogul huddles with Republican leaders and his foreign policy team during a trip to the nation’s capital.
Politico
By Alex Isenstadt
03/31/16
Excerpt:
Donald Trump is meeting on Thursday with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus during his trip to Washington, just two days after he disavowed his pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.
The real estate mogul has had a fraught relationship with the RNC, openly flirting at times with a third-party bid and often complaining about mistreatment from the Republican Party in general and the RNC in particular.
Trump was seen entering the RNC’s Capitol Hill building through a backdoor entrance shortly after 2 p.m. ET.
The RNC has publicly stated that it would back Trump if he clinches the nomination, but has also said it is preparing for the possibility of a contested convention.
Trump’s visit to the RNC came as he swung back into presidential mode on Thursday, also convening a meeting in Washington with members of his newly established foreign policy team and rolling out his U.S. House Leadership Committee as the real estate mogul tries to build a more sturdy campaign.
Those close to Trump say, despite appearances to the contrary, he’s interested in unifying the party around him and reaching out to key GOP figures. His advisers remain optimistic that Trump will win the 1,237 delegates needed for the Republican nomination, but say he’s eager to coalesce the party — including those who’ve been reluctant to embrace him.
The RNC was tight-lipped about the meeting, with top officials there declining to discuss the huddle between Trump and Priebus. One party official said the fourth floor of the RNC building, which houses Priebus’s office, had been shut down by security shortly before Trump’s arrival.
Trump’s volatility has been on full display over the past two days as he verbally attacked a reporter who accused his campaign manager of battery, disavowed the GOP loyalty oath, bemoaned the Geneva Conventions, and suggested that women should be punished for abortions if they become outlawed – before quickly reversing himself.
The fallout threatened to unravel the limited headway he appeared to be making after Super Tuesday, as it became clearer that Trump was marching toward the nomination. Trump’s spin through Washington earlier this month showed flashes of a more evolved candidate, as he delivered a commanding speech before AIPAC and huddled with lawmakers at the law firm of his election lawyer.
Trump’s campaign announced on Thursday that two of those lawmakers – Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins – will be co-chairs of his House Leadership Committee and will spearhead outreach to their colleagues on Trump’s behalf.
“Congressman Hunter and Congressman Collins are conservative stalwarts. I am honored to have the support of these two well respected Members of Congress who share my vision of securing our borders, strengthening our military, treating our veterans with the respect and care they deserve and putting Americans first again,” Trump said in a statement.
The outreach has been a continuous process, Hunter’s chief of staff Joe Kasper told POLITICO in a telephone interview Thursday, characterizing Thursday’s announcement as an “official stamp” on the efforts.
“A lot of the committee’s focus is going to be ironed out in the next few days with far more specificity,” Kasper.
Hunter’s chief of staff will meet with Trump representatives next week; Collins’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment seeking confirmation of its plans. Hunter and Collins were the first two members of Congress to formally endorse Trump’s bid on Feb. 24.
Trump’s statement also said he is holding meetings today in the nation’s capital, but did not provide more details. However, people familiar with his schedule said one of the meetings would be with his foreign policy advisers.
Trump for months had declined to name his advisers, and has said that he largely relies on himself when it comes to matters of national security and international relations.
"I know what I’m doing and I listen to a lot of people, I talk to a lot of people and at the appropriate time I’ll tell you who the people are," Trump said earlier this month. “But my primary consultant is myself and I have a good instinct for this stuff."
A week later, he rattled off the names of five men who are sources of regular advice on national security: Walid Phares, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Joe Schmitz, and Gen. Keith Kellogg.
...............................................
View the complete article, including image, at:
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/0...cy-team-221417
After two days of wild statements, the real estate mogul huddles with Republican leaders and his foreign policy team during a trip to the nation’s capital.
Politico
By Alex Isenstadt
03/31/16
Excerpt:
Donald Trump is meeting on Thursday with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus during his trip to Washington, just two days after he disavowed his pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.
The real estate mogul has had a fraught relationship with the RNC, openly flirting at times with a third-party bid and often complaining about mistreatment from the Republican Party in general and the RNC in particular.
Trump was seen entering the RNC’s Capitol Hill building through a backdoor entrance shortly after 2 p.m. ET.
The RNC has publicly stated that it would back Trump if he clinches the nomination, but has also said it is preparing for the possibility of a contested convention.
Trump’s visit to the RNC came as he swung back into presidential mode on Thursday, also convening a meeting in Washington with members of his newly established foreign policy team and rolling out his U.S. House Leadership Committee as the real estate mogul tries to build a more sturdy campaign.
Those close to Trump say, despite appearances to the contrary, he’s interested in unifying the party around him and reaching out to key GOP figures. His advisers remain optimistic that Trump will win the 1,237 delegates needed for the Republican nomination, but say he’s eager to coalesce the party — including those who’ve been reluctant to embrace him.
The RNC was tight-lipped about the meeting, with top officials there declining to discuss the huddle between Trump and Priebus. One party official said the fourth floor of the RNC building, which houses Priebus’s office, had been shut down by security shortly before Trump’s arrival.
Trump’s volatility has been on full display over the past two days as he verbally attacked a reporter who accused his campaign manager of battery, disavowed the GOP loyalty oath, bemoaned the Geneva Conventions, and suggested that women should be punished for abortions if they become outlawed – before quickly reversing himself.
The fallout threatened to unravel the limited headway he appeared to be making after Super Tuesday, as it became clearer that Trump was marching toward the nomination. Trump’s spin through Washington earlier this month showed flashes of a more evolved candidate, as he delivered a commanding speech before AIPAC and huddled with lawmakers at the law firm of his election lawyer.
Trump’s campaign announced on Thursday that two of those lawmakers – Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins – will be co-chairs of his House Leadership Committee and will spearhead outreach to their colleagues on Trump’s behalf.
“Congressman Hunter and Congressman Collins are conservative stalwarts. I am honored to have the support of these two well respected Members of Congress who share my vision of securing our borders, strengthening our military, treating our veterans with the respect and care they deserve and putting Americans first again,” Trump said in a statement.
The outreach has been a continuous process, Hunter’s chief of staff Joe Kasper told POLITICO in a telephone interview Thursday, characterizing Thursday’s announcement as an “official stamp” on the efforts.
“A lot of the committee’s focus is going to be ironed out in the next few days with far more specificity,” Kasper.
Hunter’s chief of staff will meet with Trump representatives next week; Collins’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment seeking confirmation of its plans. Hunter and Collins were the first two members of Congress to formally endorse Trump’s bid on Feb. 24.
Trump’s statement also said he is holding meetings today in the nation’s capital, but did not provide more details. However, people familiar with his schedule said one of the meetings would be with his foreign policy advisers.
Trump for months had declined to name his advisers, and has said that he largely relies on himself when it comes to matters of national security and international relations.
"I know what I’m doing and I listen to a lot of people, I talk to a lot of people and at the appropriate time I’ll tell you who the people are," Trump said earlier this month. “But my primary consultant is myself and I have a good instinct for this stuff."
A week later, he rattled off the names of five men who are sources of regular advice on national security: Walid Phares, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Joe Schmitz, and Gen. Keith Kellogg.
...............................................
View the complete article, including image, at:
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/0...cy-team-221417