Trump rallies Republicans back to Capitol; Georgians like the message

WASHINGTON — Two weeks before a debate in Atlanta with President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump met with Republicans at the Capitol on Thursday, urging them to remain united in their bid to win back the White House and both chambers of Congress in this year’s elections. .

“The overall message was we have to win in November,” said U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-St. Simons. “He talked about politics and victory. »

As lawmakers filed out of the meeting, held just blocks from the U.S. Capitol at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Georgia Republicans billed the meeting with Trump as a pep rally and a unit meeting.

“People are determined to win,” said U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, who joined his colleagues in enthusiastically recounting Trump’s main message. “America is in bad shape and going in the wrong direction. »

Republicans said Trump laid out a familiar list of important issues the Republican Party could rally around on the campaign trail to send a unified message to still-hesitant voters heading into November.

“It was very focused on politics,” said U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville. “He talked about a lot of things: taxes, cutting taxes on tips, border security – major Republican policies. »

One item Trump mentioned — tougher tariffs on imports from China and other countries — has not been fully embraced by all Republicans.

“He said he likes tariffs,” said U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, who has raised concerns that a trade war with China could hurt agricultural interests and American exports.

“I worry about anything that hurts our farmers,” Scott added.

But any concerns about what Trump might do in a second term on trade are easily erased by the desire of Scott — and other Republican lawmakers in Congress — to put Republicans back in charge of the White House.

“Trump is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow,” Scott said. “Making sure that we maintain the House and the Senate so that we can do the things that need to be done both on the border and on the economy. »

——-