Republican ‘loyalists’ fete birthday boy Donald Trump on Capitol return

A packed room of Republicans has sung happy birthday to Donald Trump, who turned 78 on Friday, as he visited Capitol Hill for the first time since the 2021 rampage.

Donald Trump is applauded by some Senate Republicans during a visit to Capitol Hill this week to meet Republican members of congress. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

A packed room of Republicans sang happy birthday to Donald Trump, who turned 78 on Friday, as he visited Capitol Hill for the first time since the rampage by a mob of his supporters after the 2020 election.

Mr Trump set out his re-election plans to separate meetings of representatives and senators at a private venue near congress on Thursday, shunned by the remaining handful of members who ­oppose his return as their presidential candidate.

Most of those who have stood up to the former president have been purged or resigned, creating a party of loyalists in Washington eager for his return in his rematch with Joe Biden in November.

“We’re excited to welcome President Trump back,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Asked whether he pushed Mr Trump to respect the peaceful transfer of presidential power, unlike the violent scenes on January 6, 2021, Mr Johnson said: “Of course he respects that, we all do, and we’ve all talked about it, ad nauseam.”

Mr Trump told Mr Johnson he was doing a “terrific job”, according to a Republican in the private meeting. The former president asked Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his fiercest cheerleaders and the Speaker’s chief Republican critic, if she was being nice to Mr Johnson, another Republican said.

Mitch McConnell, the out­going Republican Senate leader who once blamed Mr Trump for the “disgraceful … insurrection”, said he was attending the Senate meeting after endorsing him.

“I support him. He’s earned the nomination by the voters all across the country,” Senator McConnell said.

Moderate senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney, who all voted to convict Mr Trump after his impeachment trial, did not attend, citing scheduling conflicts.

Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana senator who also voted to convict when Mr Trump avoided the two-thirds majority required to bar him from office, said he would probably join the meeting at the senators’ campaign headquarters. “He’s going to be the next president, so you have to work together,” he said.

Asked if he was concerned about the direction of the Republican Party, Senator Cassidy said: “Let the day’s own troubles be sufficient for the day. You can fill yourself up with anxiety about tomorrow, but will it change a thing? No.”

Republicans hope to reverse the Democrats’ 51-49 advantage in the Senate when one-third of seats, including several winnable states, are contested in November.

John Thune, the Republican Senate whip vying to replace Senator McConnell as leader, said: “I think there’s an opportunity there to really make this a big win.”

Democrat Bennie Thompson said: “After inciting a deadly insurrection that defiled the halls of congress, how dare Trump show his face on these grounds?

“Congressional Republicans allow him to waltz in here when it’s known he has no regard for democracy. Since January 6, ­Donald Trump, a twice-impeached convicted felon, has repeatedly doubled down on his disrespect for the rule of law and continues to sow hate and division. He still presents the same dire threat to our democracy that he did three years ago.”

The Times