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In a wide-ranging speech to the Republican House on Thursday, Donald Trump insisted that the war between Russia and Ukraine would not have happened on his watch and urged Republicans to get better at reporting on abortion — but he didn’t seem to to explain how. The former president told a horde of Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Vladimir Putin is “more afraid of him than Biden,” Secretary of State Mike McCaul told DailyMail.com after the meeting.
“He said he told Putin that if he invaded Ukraine, he would hit him hard,” the Texas Republican continued. Trump was mainly concerned about Russian nuclear submarines off the coast of Cuba, and made scant mention of Israel, according to the recollections of members leaving the meeting.
He emphasized his love for tariffs and praised former President William McKinley, who famously imposed tariffs on most imported goods. He spoke about the “costs of wars around the world” and asked, according to Rep. Don Bacon, “If Ukraine wins, what would be the benefit?”
“Well, I could see the benefit pretty clearly,” Bacon added. It was Trump’s first visit to Capitol Hill since the January 6 riot in 2021. Trump called the Department of Justice (DOJ) “dirty, no good,” according to CNN.
He also wondered why Taylor Swift would support President Biden, even though she hasn’t yet. “Why would she approve of this dope,” Trump said, according to CNN. “He doesn’t know how to get off a stage.”
Multiple members told DailyMail.com that Trump was “angry” about his own conviction but did not direct Congress to take any specific action to fight back. Trump emphasized that abortion would once again be an “important” issue in this election and urged Republicans to “be smart” with their messaging, but he himself appeared to have no clear message on the issue.
“He said he still believes the Dobbs decision is the right decision and the American people should decide,” said Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Trump said there “may come a time when the federal government will now get involved.” What needs to happen is the voices of the people of the United States,” Hern continued.
“Some are going in the right direction for Republicans, some are not. And he acknowledged that.’ “Nancy Pelosi’s daughter is a lunatic. Her daughter told me that if things were different, Nancy and I would be perfect together, but there is an age difference,” the former president also said Thursday, according to Punchbowl’s retelling. Several members confirmed to DailyMail.com that Trump had told her daughter’s story and said Pelosi and Trump would be “great” together.
“Speaking for all four Pelosi daughters, this is a LIE. His deceptive, twisted obsession with our mother is yet another reason why Donald Trump is unwell, unhinged and unfit to step anywhere near her – or the White House,” Christine Pelosi responded to the comments on Twitter. He made light of the feud between Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, asking the Georgia Republican if she was “nice” to the speaker.
Greene launched a failed motion earlier this year to remove Johnson from the speakership. The GOP conference started the meeting by singing Trump Happy Birthday — he turns 78 on Friday — and presented him with a ball and bat from the congressional baseball game.