Trump in Washington for meetings with Republican allies

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio characterized the meeting with former President Donald Trump as “getting the team back together” and providing the state of the former president’s campaign. 

“Optimism, but a lot of work to be done,” Rubio said. 

It was a “terrific meeting,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said. “President Trump was in very good spirits, focused on winning back the White House.” 

Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty said the meeting was “good.”

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said the mood in the room was “unification, leadership,” which he said was “few and far between up here.” 

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said he was interested to see how the Trump press conference went, as he didn’t catch it. 

“I was a point for the president to connect with the people who are in this city,” Cassidy said. 

Asked whether there was any talk about Trump’s potential choice for vice president, Rubio let out a laugh and said no.

When asked how the party can be united when some senior Republicans had previously blamed Trump for the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio said: “No real Republican with any credibility in the party is still blaming him.”

“He expressed frustration over the recent trial, you can imagine, and justifiably in my view,” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said. He said Trump did not bring up January 6.