Sarah Westwood of the Washington Examiner reports on President Trump’s interactions with other Republicans heading into this midterm election year.
Republicans who once questioned President Trump’s competence or called him a “jackass” have spent recent weeks singing his praises and joining him on Air Force One as the president works to repair strained relationships on Capitol Hill ahead of the midterms.
Facing the prospect of a Democratic wave in November, the White House and GOP lawmakers have already begun to bridge their past differences in preparation for the political battle they will fight together over the next 10 months.
Trump spent the first days of 2018 huddling with GOP congressional leaders at Camp David, where they presented a united front despite the feuds Trump has waged with many of the party’s top leaders.
“The [president] had a very good experience in dealing with Republican House and Senate leadership and rank and file – delivering on generational tax reforms,” said Bradley Blakeman, a Republican strategist. “All parties appreciate that 2018 is a year of political consequence with the midterms looming this November, and that means Republicans must have a record of accomplishment to run on. This is about delivering on campaign promises and self preservation.”
“Republicans must hang together, or they will hang separately,” Blakeman added.
