Movie nights, baseball, phone calls: How Trump is boosting GOP unity in impeachment inquiry
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump sat surrounded by a group of his most loyal defenders on Capitol Hill.
Since the controversy with Ukraine surfaced in September, Trump has spoken directly or in groups with at least 120 House Republicans and by the end of the week, will have talked with 40 GOP senators to outline his defense against the impeachment accusations lodged by Democratic critics, two senior administration officials told USA TODAY.
The president, meanwhile, has rallied the troops, making personal phone calls, inviting key Republicans to events and even hosting a pair of movie nights at the executive mansion, two administration officials told USA TODAY. The officials said Trump hopes to have contact with every Republican lawmaker by the time impeachment comes to an end. While impeachment is a primary topic of these talks, Trump also speaks with lawmakers about issues like the proposed Canada-Mexico trade deal and new legislation on prescription drugs.
"The most valuable resource that the president has is his time," said Doug Heye, a Republican strategist."and if he could make that time available for members of Congress, that is something that they react to." Elmendorf said the Clinton White House moved early on to ensure support from key constituencies in the House, including the Congressional Black Caucus, who had emerged as some of Clinton's most vocal and steadfast defenders.
"We're going to be seeing to a great extent, two very different conversations with two very different audiences," Heye, the Republican strategist said. Rep. Andy Biggs, chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee — the panel that will ultimately be tasked with deciding whether to file articles of impeachment against the president — was part of the group of Republicans sitting with Trump at the World Series.
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