Trump, McConnell meet amid party tension
Story highlights
- Trump mentioned the meeting in an off-hand remark at a campaign event Saturday
- Trump has been under fire from both Democrats and Republicans over his recent comments criticizing a federal judge
Washington (CNN)Donald
Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell met quietly on Friday
as public support from the party establishment for Trump has frayed over
his controversial rhetoric.
Trump
mentioned the meeting, which took place in Williamsburg, Virginia, in
an off-hand remark at a campaign event Saturday in Tampa, Florida, as he
warned that Republican senators who don't endorse him could lose their
seats in November.
"Then
I'd have a Senate without the majority, which would be bad because I
would love to see the majority. I was with Mitch yesterday. I would love
to see the majority," Trump said.
A
source familiar with the meeting later confirmed to CNN that it had
taken place. The Daily Press, a newspaper based out of Hampton Roads,
Virginia, reported
the meeting was at the annual Senators Classic golf weekend at the
Williamsburg Inn. Trump, on his way to an evening campaign rally in
nearby Richmond, stopped by.
The
Daily Press reported that the meeting lasted about 90 minutes, during
which Trump met with about two dozen Washington power brokers. Ben
Dendy, a Richmond-based lobbyist, told the paper Trump mingled with the
crowd and addressed the reception.
Trump
has been under fire from both Democrats and Republicans over his recent
comments criticizing a federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump
University. The judge, Gonzalo Curiel, is Indiana-born but of Mexican
ancestry, and Trump has said he has a "conflict of interest" because of
the billionaire's tough immigration policies and vows to renegotiate
trade deals with Mexico.
Leading Republicans condemned Trump for the attacks. McConnell said Sunday he "couldn't disagree more" with Trump's comments, and House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday called the remarks the "textbook definition of a racist comment." On Friday, McConnell kept up his criticism of Trump, saying it was "obvious" the billionaire doesn't know much about "the issues."
Earlier in the week, Trump said Republicans who are critical of his comments against Curiel "have to get over it" and "they shouldn't be so angry for so long."
On Saturday, Trump lamented the lack of unity
in the Republican Party regarding his campaign, though he continued to
level attacks against some Republicans, most notably 2012 GOP nominee
Mitt Romney, who told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Friday that a Trump
candidacy could result in "trickle-down racism."
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