On Thursday, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy met with former President Trump in Florida where the two discussed plans at Mar-a-Lago on how Republicans could take back the House in 2022.
McCarthy’s meeting was “very good and cordial” with the former President, according to Trump’s team.
After the meeting, McCarthy tweeted, “United and ready to win in ’22”
United and ready to win in '22. https://t.co/YJWqCdBrCh
— Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) January 28, 2021
RELATED: RNC Says They Will Be Neutral If Trump Runs In 2024 – But Polls Show GOP Voters Definitely Won’t
‘President Trump Has Agreed To Work With Leader McCarthy’ On 2022
A statement from the Trump-backed Save America PAC read, “President Trump has agreed to work with Leader McCarthy on helping the Republican Party to become a majority in the House.”
“They worked very well together in the last election and picked up at least 15 seats when most predicted it would be the opposite,” it continued. “They will do so again, and the work has already started.”
A statement from McCarthy’s team on the meeting read, “For the sake of our country, the radical Democrat agenda must be stopped.”
“A united conservative movement will strengthen the bonds of our citizens and uphold the freedoms our country was founded on.”
Fox News reports that an aide familiar the meeting said its purpose was to move the Republican Party forward.
The aide told Fox News, “They are catching up as McCarthy will be in the neighborhood.”
“They’ve been on good terms for a while, and that will be important for the party moving forward” the aide added.
Fact check… True! “President Trump's popularity has never been stronger than it is today, and his endorsement means more than perhaps any endorsement at any time.'” https://t.co/nz9bUhctaO
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) January 28, 2021
Liz Cheney A Top Target For Trump
CNN reports that Trump will bring his energy to bear on neoconservative Rep. Liz Cheney, the #3 Republican in the House.
Cheney, along with nine other Republicans, voted with Democrats to impeach Trump in January.
According to CNN, Trump has been following the effort by House Republicans to remove Cheney from her leadership position.
Just this week, America First Congressman Matt Gaetz, a top ally of Trump, flew to Wyoming to encourage Republicans to toss Cheney and elect someone else to Congress.
The Meeting Indicates GOP Needs Very Popular Trump
The meeting was reportedly set up after Trump’s team learned McCarthy would be fundraising in Florida.
It is no secret McCarthy would like to replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker if his party can take back the House in two years.
Trump invited McCarthy to Mar-a-Lago and the House Republican Leader was quick to accept.
What this also signifies besides the upcoming midterm is that top Republican leaders appear to have no plans to break away from Trump following the January 6 Capitol Hill attacks.
McCarthy had said that Trump bore some responsibility for the attack.
INBOX: Statement from President. Trump’s Save America PAC says he and @GOPLeader McCarthy met today. “President Trump’s popularity has never been stronger than it is today, and his endorsement means more than perhaps any endorsement at any time.” (Photo came with press release) pic.twitter.com/Ar2GxaaVRD
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 28, 2021
McCarthy Criticized Trump After Capitol Violence
Opposing impeachment on the House floor on January 13, McCarthy still said “the President bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters.”
“He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding,” McCarthy added. “These facts require immediate action by President Trump.”
As for whether or not Trump’s speech that day provoked the attack, McCarthy said last week, “I don’t believe he provoked it if you listen to what he said at the rally.”
It is likely that this subject was not a focus when McCarthy and Trump met Thursday at the former president’s resort.
Whether Republican leaders like it or not, Republican voters still very much support President Trump.
An Axios poll from the week after the Capitol incident showed that 92% of Republican voters want to see Trump run for President again in 2024.