The meeting with Scott, a Floridian who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has been planned for weeks, the source said. But it will come at a time of considerable tension between the former president and the party establishment, after his pressure to direct the supporters’ money through his own political apparatus, instead of traditional Republican campaign committees like the NRSC.
The visit,
which was first reported by The Washington Post, also highlights the Republican Party’s split over Trump’s legacy in the party as it progresses through the Biden era. House minority leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Steve Scalise also visited Trump and most House Republicans – with the notable exception of Republican Party conference chairman Liz Cheney – see the former president as their flagship. .
But Trump’s support is less pronounced in the Senate, where Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell and John Thune, the second Senate Republican facing re-election in South Dakota next year, worked to distance themselves from the former president.
McConnell made scathing comments about Trump on the Senate floor after voting to absolve him at the impeachment trial, even suggesting that he could be criminally prosecuted for his actions that led to the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.
The split has gotten even more complicated in recent days by letters from Trump’s lawyers to the Republican National Committee and the party’s campaign in the House and Senate warning against using Trump’s name to raise money.
In tweet-like statements, Trump urged his supporters to donate money directly to his Save America political action committee – leaving the network of affiliated campaign committees and super PACs that typically lead medium-term efforts in the cold.
“No more money for RINOS,” Trump said in a statement late on Monday. “They do nothing but harm the Republican Party and our large vote base – they will never lead us to Greatness. Send your donation to Save America PAC at DonaldJTrump.com. We will bring everything back stronger than ever!”
But while Trump can put his name behind a candidate, McConnell is still armed with a well-funded outside group, the Senate Leadership Fund, which is ready to launch millions in major races to try to push the Republican leader’s preferred choices into the race. finish line .
CNN’s Michael Warren, Fredreka Schouten, Eric Bradner, Daniella Diaz and Manu Raju contributed to this report.
