Watch: Trump meets with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill, pays respect to Carter
President-elect Trump went to Capitol Hill Wednesday evening to meet with Senate Republicans and visit the Rotunda, where the late former President Carter is lying in state.
With his inauguration just weeks away, Trump was expected to discuss his legislative priorities in closed-door meetings with GOP allies. Earlier this week, the incoming president expressed his support for passing these priorities, which include border security and tax cuts, in a single reconciliation bill as Republicans seek to wrap their arms around his agenda with a slim majority.
Trump’s Cabinet nominations were also considered a likely topic of conversation with lawmakers as confirmation hearings in the Senate are slated to begin next week.
While on the Hill, Trump paid his respects to Carter, who passed away just before the New Year. On Tuesday, Trump said he respected the late Democrat despite their policy differences but criticized Carter for the symbolic sale of the Panama Canal in 1977.
“I liked him as a man. I disagreed with his policy,” Trump said at a Mar-a-Lago presser Wednesday. “So, he thought giving away the Panama Canal was a good thing. I think it cost him the election. That and the hostages.”
The Canal, which Trump has said he will take back from Panama, has found itself in his legislative priorities as he returns to Washington. Trump ally Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) said he will introduce legislation to begin this process earlier Wednesday.
NewsNation confirmed that former first lady Melania Trump would join her husband in Washington on Thursday.
Watch the video above.
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