Donald Trump received an early birthday gift ahead of his 78th birthday — a handshake from his longtime critic, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, symbolizing the Republican Party’s complete submission to its presumptive presidential nominee.
On Thursday, Trump returned to Capitol Hill for the first time since his supporters attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump, a stark contrast to the mob’s cries to “hang Mike Pence” over three years ago. Eager to honor Trump and set a positive tone for November, House members presented him with a bat and game ball won in the annual congressional baseball game against Democrats. The event had a strong sense of subordinates paying homage to a powerful leader.
Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, a former 2016 primary opponent and potential vice presidential nominee, described it as “getting the team back together.” GOP senators celebrated Trump just two weeks after his criminal conviction. Another 2016 opponent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who endured personal insults from Trump, also applauded him.
The most notable moment was a handshake between McConnell and Trump, captured in a photo by Doug Mills of The New York Times. Despite their mutual disdain, with Trump labeling McConnell as “the old crow” and making racist comments about McConnell’s wife, McConnell praised their “entirely positive” encounter. This interaction exemplified the GOP’s unity behind Trump, despite significant primary votes still being cast for other candidates.
“There’s tremendous unity in the Republican Party,” Trump stated. “We want strong borders, a strong military, and no wasteful spending.”
Trump’s display of power on Capitol Hill underscored the subordination of those seeking their own power within the party. The event highlighted that Trump faces no consequences within the GOP for his actions, including his attempt to undermine democracy to stay in power. This deference suggests that if Trump returns to the White House, Republicans in Washington would likely support his autocratic tendencies.
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, another potential vice-presidential pick, noted that no credible Republicans still blame Trump for January 6. He emphasized the party’s current unity and support for Trump.
Many Republicans who opposed Trump in 2021 have since left or are leaving. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney is retiring, former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was ousted for her truth-telling, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized Trump but from a comfortable retirement.
Lawmakers who stood with Trump on Thursday likely did so not out of personal affection but due to his significant grassroots support, essential for their political survival.
As Trump returned to Washington, President Joe Biden, whom Trump considers too old to serve, was in Italy for the G7 summit. Biden’s campaign, aiming to depict the election as a fight for democracy, released a new video highlighting the Capitol riot.
“There’s nothing more sacred than our democracy, but Donald Trump’s ready to burn it all down,” the narrator said in the ad.
Biden, standing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized continued support for Ukraine, contrasting Trump’s cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his claim to end the war in 24 hours by accepting Russia’s territorial gains.
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton warned that Trump could dissolve any agreements with Ukraine if re-elected, marking a significant shift in the Republican Party’s stance on global democracy.
“You can’t bind a future president who doesn’t want to be bound,” Bolton said.
