(Washington) Two weeks after his criminal conviction, Donald Trump went to Washington on Thursday to launch a major attack on Republican lawmakers and business owners.
The former president rarely visits the US federal capital, a city he detests and where a new trial awaits him.
At the beginning of the morning, the Republican candidate for the November elections arrived in front of Democrat Joe Biden, raising his fist to a meeting with elected officials from his party.
Iftar was organized a stone's throw from the Capitol Building, the headquarters of the US Congress, which was stormed by its supporters in January 2021, and which Donald Trump has not visited since then.
Surrounded by parliamentarians, the turbulent septuagenarian discussed his legal problems at length, according to a Republican leader, but he also spoke about abortion, a highly sensitive issue in the middle of the election campaign.
Three years after the attack on the Capitol
Donald Trump, who left Washington forcefully in 2021, also met with Republican senators, especially conservative tenor Mitch McConnell, with whom he exchanged handshakes.
However, relations between the two men have been frosty since the attack on the Capitol.
On that cold day in January, thousands of Donald Trump supporters attacked the US Congress in an attempt to oppose the certification of Joe Biden's election, causing unimaginable chaos.
Then Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, had very strong words towards Donald Trump, accusing the leader of being “responsible” for the assault.
But that did not prevent the octogenarian senator from rallying behind the Republican Party's presidential nomination.
“I said three years ago, right after the attack on the Capitol, that I would support our candidate [républicain]Whoever it is, including him [Donald Trump] “, he justified on Wednesday.
Donald Trump, surrounded by a large group of senators during an early afternoon news conference, did not discuss these differences with Mitch McConnell.
On the contrary, he praised the “extraordinary unity” of the Republican Party.
He added, “I think we will witness extraordinary elections,” promising a stricter immigration policy, a strong American army, and stopping “the waste of money around the world.”
“fair position”
Between two meetings with parliamentarians, Donald Trump also met with leaders of the largest American companies and members of the Business Roundtable.
The lobby group, which represents the bosses of Amazon, Apple and McDonald's, regularly takes positions on topics directly related to its members, such as taxes or international trade agreements, but also on broader social issues.
Joe Biden was also invited to exchange with the group, but was unable to participate due to the G7 summit being held in Italy.
In front of these business leaders, Donald Trump had to detail how his platform would “deliver tax cuts, record deregulation, fair trade, abundant energy, and low inflation,” as those around him said.
Joe Biden's campaign spokesman, James Singer, responded, saying: “Donald Trump will not even be able to manage a fair situation, let alone our country.”
“He is a conman, a fraud, a failed businessman, and a president who has left America in ruins. »
