Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press
18 minutes ago
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after speaking at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locker)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Senate Republicans on Thursday and address them just two weeks after he was convicted on 34 charges in his hush money trial, as GOP senators step up their support for Trump.
The invitation came from Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Republican conference chairman, and Trump accepted it, according to two people familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting, which will be held away from the Capitol, as is common practice for election-related events.
The rally marks Trump’s first appearance at a Republican convention since taking office and his first since his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The gathering was first reported by NBC News.
Many senators who criticized Trump after the attack now support his presidential bid, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and other members of the Senate leadership.
The Republican Senatorial Conference was also unanimous in its support of Trump after the May 31 hush-money verdict, with many joining his criticism of the judge and jury. The verdict made Trump the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. A New York jury convicted Trump on all charges in a scheme to influence the 2016 election by making hush-money payments to pornography actors.
Instead of distancing themselves from Trump, Republicans rallied around him in the hope that voters would believe the New York jury verdict was a form of political retribution. Some senators attended the trial to show their support for Trump.
Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges last month but is expected to appeal.