On Thursday, Donald Trump criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, urged Republican lawmakers to cut tip taxes and talked about tariffs in a visit to Capitol Hill, attendees said, as he sought to build unity in the party ahead of the June 5 elections. November.
In a closed-door meeting, Trump said he would work to expand the narrow 218-213 Republican majority in the House of Representatives and help re-elect even the two remaining Republican members of the House who voted to impeach him following the attack on the U.S. Capitol in January 6, 2021 by his supporters.
Trump also encouraged House Republicans not to push for a national abortion ban and encouraged them to abandon infighting that undermined its effectiveness, the lawmakers said.
“We have to plan to lead because there are so many problems to solve,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters afterward.
Trump was scheduled to meet with Senate Republicans for lunch and discuss campaign strategies.
Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden enjoyed unified governments during their first two years in office, but saw their parties lose control of the House during the midterm elections, hampering their ability to pass legislation.
The Republican presidential candidate is also scheduled to speak Thursday to the Business Roundtable, an association of more than 200 corporate CEOs based in Washington, D.C.
Republicans hope to see Trump defeat Biden, extend his current narrow majority in the House and take control of a Senate that Democrats currently lead 51-49.
Trump has urged lawmakers to cut taxes on tip income, an idea he floated on Sunday to attract service workers.
Trump criticized a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine that was recently approved with Republican support, lawmakers said.
“He said: if Ukraine wins, what will be the benefit?” Republican Rep. Don Bacon told reporters.
Bacon said Trump has expressed support for tariffs on Chinese goods.
“He just said that tariffs are a strong tool for the executive. And you can use them in your negotiations with China and obtain concessions.”
Hardline Republican Representative Matt Gaetz said Trump has expressed support for tariffs to protect the US steel industry.
Trump used tariffs aggressively during his term in office from 2017 to 2021, imposing duties of up to 25% on a wide range of Chinese goods as one of many efforts to stifle competition.
Trump told Republicans they should allow states to set their own policies on abortion rather than pushing for a national ban following the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that ended the national guarantee of abortion access. Many in the party want to ban the procedure completely.
“He reiterated that he thought this was the right decision, that some states will do one thing and other states will do another,” Republican Rep. French Hill told reporters.
Trump also encouraged far-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who led an unsuccessful effort to recall Johnson, to work constructively with him, the lawmakers said.
OLD COMPLAINTS
Democrats said Trump was not welcome at the Capitol after his false claims of fraud following his 2020 election defeat inspired the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
“After inciting a deadly insurrection that desecrated the halls of Congress, how dare Trump show his face on these grounds?” said Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in a statement.
The visit also highlighted long-standing tensions between Trump and members of Congress, including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has not spoken to the former president since acknowledging Biden’s election victory in December 2020.
Despite their differences, McConnell emphasized his support for Trump’s candidacy on Wednesday.
Others, including moderates like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, will not participate, citing scheduling conflicts.
Via Reuters.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2024/06/13/trump-critica-ajuda-a-ucrania-discute-cortes-de-impostos-e-tarifas-com-republicanos/
