US – Donald Trump has returned to Capitol Hill to meet Republicans in his first visit to the area since the 6 January riot of 2021.

The presumptive Republican nominee in November’s presidential election was expected to discuss his agenda for a second term in office. Later in the day, the former president was also scheduled to meet an association of 200 corporate leaders. Nancy Pelosi, the former Democratic House Speaker, said in a statement that Trump was the “instigator of an insurrection… returning to the scene of the crime”.

The visit comes weeks after Trump’s criminal conviction for falsifying business records in his hush-money trial in New York. He arrived at a Republican office building near the US Capitol building yesterday morning, passing a small crowd of protesters holding signs with slogans including “failed coup” and “Democracy Forever, Trump Never”.

Officials from his campaign said that his meetings were also intended to promote unity among the Republican party. “President Trump brought an extraordinary amount of energy and enthusiasm this morning,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said. “That is what we’re seeing in the party throughout the country.” “We believe we are going to win back the White House, and the Senate, and grow the House majority.”

Republican Senator Thom Tillis said gaining a majority in the Senate was “intrinsically linked” to Trump winning the presidential election. “We’re like one team, one vision,” Mr Tillis was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “I think that’ll be largely what we talk about.” Before the visit, Politico reported that Trump called Mr Johnson to urge him to help reverse his 31 May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying documents in New York.

“We have to overturn this,” Trump reportedly said in an expletive-laden call. More than three years ago, Trump urged supporters to “fight like hell” just hours before a mob stormed the US Capitol on 6 January, 2021, in a failed bid to prevent the certification of the election. Mrs Pelosi said in her statement: “Donald Trump comes to Capitol Hill today with the same mission of dismantling our democracy. “Make no mistake – Trump has already cemented his legacy of shame in our hallowed halls.” (BBC)…[+]