Trump tells Republicans why Putin 'fears' him more than Biden
In a wide-ranging speech to the House GOP on Thursday, Donald Trump insisted the Russia-Ukraine war would not have happened under his watch and urged Republicans to get better about messaging on abortion - but didn't seem 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,' Foreign Affairs Chair 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 went on. Trump had a particular concern for the Russian nuclear submarines off of Cuba, and hardly if at all mentioned Israel, according to the recollections of members leaving the meeting.
He emphasized his love of tariffs and praised former President William McKinley, who famously imposed tariffs on most imported goods. He talked about the 'costs of wars around the world' and according to Rep. Don Bacon, asked '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 [expletive],' according to CNN.
He also questioned why Taylor Swift would endorse President Biden, though she hasn't yet. 'Why would she endorse 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 was going to be an 'important' issue again in this election and urged Republicans to 'be smart' with their messaging, but didn't seem to have a clear message on the matter ironed out himself.
'He said he still believes the Dobbs decision is the right decision and the American people need to decide,' according to Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. Trump said 'there may be a time in place for the federal government get involved with right now. What needs to be done is the voices of the people in the states,' Hern went on.
'Some are going the right way for Republicans and some are not. And he acknowledged that.' 'Nancy Pelosi’s daughter is a whacko, her daughter told me if things were different Nancy and I would be perfect together, there’s an age difference though,' the former president also said on Thursday, according to Punchbowl's retelling. Multiple members confirmed to DailyMail.com that Trump had told the story of her daughter mentioning Pelosi and Trump would be 'great' together.
'Speaking for all 4 Pelosi daughters — this is a LIE. His deceitful, deranged obsession with our mother is yet another reason Donald Trump is unwell, unhinged and unfit to step foot anywhere near her — or the White House ,' Christine Pelosi shot back 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 'being nice' to the speaker.
Greene launched an unsuccessful motion to vacate Johnson from the speakership earlier this year. The GOP conference started the meeting by singing Trump Happy Birthday - he turns 78 on Friday and gave him a ball and bat from the congressional baseball game.