Donald Trump Has Closed-Door Meeting With RNC Chairman
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump met with Republican National Committee members behind closed doors in Washington, D.C., today. After a wild week for Trump, the RNC reportedly requested a private sit-down with Trump to discuss some of the comments Trump has made, including his threat to sue the RNC over the delegate allocation in Louisiana, and, of course, the pledge to the RNC that he broke this week.
According to Politico, the closed-door meeting between Trump and RNC chairman Reince Priebus covered a variety of topics, but apparently, the primary focus of the meeting was a simple one: delegates. The delegates that Trump needs in order to win the nomination, the delegates he’d be fighting over if there’s a contested convention this summer, the very same delegates that Trump claims were stolen from him due to “unfair” rules the RNC imposed in states like Louisiana — which saw Trump, who won the state, receive the same number of delegates as Cruz, who came in second.
JUST IN: Trump's surprise meeting w/ RNC today was about convention, financing & general election activities – aidehttps://t.co/eSWud5lmEi
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 31, 2016
The controversial decision by the RNC was called into question by Trump shortly after his victory was announced. Donald Trump threatened to sue the RNC over the debacle, a threat that may have been addressed at this secretive meeting between Donald Trump and Reince Priebus.
Trump has always had a troubled relationship with the RNC, suggesting numerous times he might dump the Republican party in favor of a third-party run in the general election, despite signing a pledge that he wouldn’t do so. For his part, Reince Priebus stands behind Trump, stating that the RNC will back Trump if he wins the nomination – Priebus reiterated the RNC would stand behind whoever wins the nomination.
The closed-door meeting was held at the RNC’s Washington, D.C., office, and lasted about an hour, reports NBC News. Taking a break from TV interviews, Trump spent the day meeting with the RNC, and his own foreign policy team in order to strengthen his campaign’s chances in the upcoming primary contests.
It’s unclear just what was discussed in the closed-door meeting between Trump and RNC chairman Reince Priebus, but Politico reports Trump’s security shut down the fourth floor of the building in order to keep the talks as private as possible. Just after the meeting, Trump tweeted out thanks to RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, stating that the meeting was productive and civil.
“Just had a very nice meeting with Reince Priebus and the GOP. Looking forward to bringing the Party together – and it will happen!” Trump tweeted shortly after the meeting.
After the massive political fallout from Donald Trump’s recent controversial statements — and re-statements — about abortion rights in the United States, the Trump campaign seems eager to move on and put the controversy behind them. Today’s meeting with the RNC is just step one, reports Politico, the Trump camp is redoubling its efforts to lay the foundation for a Trump presidency by building strategic alliances within the Republican congress.
Staffers of Color Are Walking Away From the RNC and Rumors Say It's Because of Trump https://t.co/sNbcDpKBYo pic.twitter.com/wsvymyEzAb
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) March 31, 2016
Trump formed a congressional task force this week, a committee that will be tasked with congressional outreach, making sure Trump has the support he needs as he draws closer and closer to the Republican nomination and a tough general election fight.
“Congressman Hunter and Congressman Collins are conservative stalwarts. I am honored to have the support of these two well respected members of Congress who share my vision of securing our borders, strengthening our military, treating our veterans with the respect and care they deserve and putting Americans first again,” said Donald Trump in a statement released by his campaign.
The Trump congressional coalition will reportedly work on selling Trump to conservative members of congress who may not have aligned themselves with a candidate just yet.
[Photo by AP Photo/Susan Walsh]
