Trump returns to Capitol Hill: Meets GOP leaders amid new era in Washington

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump is meeting privately on Capitol Hill late Wednesday with Republican senators as House and Senate GOP leaders are straining to come up with a strategy for tackling his legislative priorities as the party takes power in Washington. Trump said it “feels great” to be back inside the U.S. Capitol for the first time since he left office four years ago, after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot by his supporters. “We’re looking at the one bill versus two bills, and whatever it is, it doesn’t matter,” Trump said about the conflicting strategies as he arrived. “We’re going to get the result.” Trump’s return to Capitol Hill marked a changed era in Washington as he strode through the corridors where four years ago a mob of his supporters had laid siege to the U.S. Capitol as senators fled to safety in a failed attempt to salvage Trump’s election defeat to President Joe Biden. Republicans all want to get on the same page Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican, said Wednesday’s meeting will help determine “how we all get on the same page with the House.” Many GOP senators preferred the strategy Thune proposed, which would break Trump’s priorities into two bills.