If Trump wins, he will lean heavily on these Republicans in Congress

WASHINGTON – If Donald Trump is re-elected to a second term in the White House, he would return to Washington with very different relationships than when he left the nation’s capital in January 2021.

At the end of his first term, his standing among GOP lawmakers was precarious: The January 6, 2021 riot in the US Capitol building led to convictions on both sides of the aisle and his second historic charge. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said a scathing speech from the floor after Trump’s Senate trial, which said the lame-duck president was “practically and morally responsible” for the riot, and even allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-C., said “include me“on Trump. Observers speculated it would be the end of his political career.

Nearly four years later, Trump has defied those odds in a remarkable comeback. Not only did his political career survive, but so did he practically bound with the Democratic nominee for vice president Kamala Harris in survey environments. He consolidated his power in the GOP, replacing the leaders of the Republican National Committee with his loyal allies (and family). He has he remained a kingmaker in the Republican primary, giving lawmakers a strong incentive to stay on his side if they want to win office.

And he strengthened his influence in Congress, shaping policy as a private citizen from his members-only Mar-a-Lago club and personal residence. Just this year, he helped kill a bipartisan deal border security bill and gave GOP lawmakers cover supports $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan – a dynamic which he was not always satisfied Republicans in Congress.

“Just as he did in his first term, President Trump will work with anyone willing to help deliver on his promises to the American people,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The Senate is expected to do so go back to the republicans next year because they have no battleground seats or blue-leaning states to defend as House Republicans fight to keep control of the lower chamber. If Republicans win the House, Senate and White House, Trump’s renewed power and relationship with Republicans in Congress could mean political gains for the party over the next two years, though they would still need to pass the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate.

If Democrats retain control of each chamber of Congress, they will work to derail those efforts, and GOP leaders will be forced to work with their Democratic counterparts to get anything substantial done during a second Trump administration. If Democrats somehow retain control of the Senate, they would likely slow the confirmation of Trump’s judicial nominees and Cabinet picks.

Some lawmakers are closer than others to the former president, who values loyalty above all else. These people are likely to be lawyers and liaisons for Trump if he is re-elected.

Allies of the House of Trump

In the House, several of Trump’s allies come from Florida, the state he has called his official home since 2019.

Second-term Florida Rep. Byron Donalds was on Trump’s vice-presidential shortlist. He was a top surrogate this election cycle and spoke to the former president Rally in Madison Square Garden last sunday Florida Representatives Matt Gaetz – the firebrand congressman who helped to tip over former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy last October and Mike Waltz represented Trump in the post-presidential debate room. And Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, has appeared at Trump rallies and in Manhattan to support him during his hush money criminal trial.

Some of Trump’s closest relationships go back years. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been one of Trump’s staunchest allies in the House since taking office in 2021 and acted as an intermediary for him at key moments, such as during the rebellion against McCarthy. Democrats threw Greene out of commission when they controlled the chamber in 2021 and 2022, though GOP leadership once they took over in 2023 restored their positions.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is another longtime ally who helped found the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, has repeatedly broken with fellow Republicans and now serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he oversees the Biden investigations. administration. trump card Jordan agreed to succeed McCarthy as speaker. Another Ohio member, former Trump administration official Rep. Max Miller, is also in frequent contact with the former president.

Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, became close to Trump as the White House’s chief physician. Jackson flew to New Jersey to check on Trump after an assassination attempt in July, issued an injury report in his ear and traveled with the former president as he recovered.

In contrast to his still frosty relationship with McConnell, Trump is friendly with the House leadership.

Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., made a name for himself defended Trump in front of the media during his first Senate impeachment trial in 2019, and also endeared himself enough to the former president to be considered as a potential vice presidential election at the beginning of this year.

And Trump spoke glowingly of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in spite repeatedly disagree on how to approach the government shutdowns looming over the past year.

In 2020, Johnson led a brief supporting Trump in a lawsuit seeking to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory. Johnson now presents his regular conversations with Trump, who to the defender against a leadership challenge from Greene. Johnson will also have to defend his post during the Nov. 13 leadership election and could face challengers, especially if the House shifts to Democratic control.

“I have a very close working relationship with President Trump and I now consider him a close friend. I know it’s reciprocated and he tells me how much confidence he has in my leadership,” Johnson. he said in a recent interview with Axios — adding that he expects Trump to be “fully supportive” of his bid to remain the House GOP leader.

Trump’s allies in the Senate

The Senate has typically been filled with fewer Trump dieters than the House, but the former president still has several close allies in the upper chamber who would be key to helping him implement his agenda if he wins a second term . The Senate would also have sole responsibility for confirming Trump’s potential cabinet picks and judicial nominees, including to fill any Supreme Court positions.

Three of four of Trump’s finalists for his vice presidential pick have served in the Senate, and two would still be there next year if he wins — unless they’re tapped to fill Cabinet positions.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., suffered a years-long transition from Trump skeptic (and 2016 presidential primary opponent) to MAGA acolyte. Rubio is well-versed in foreign policy and is considered someone who Trump is listening on the problem. He also joined Trump on the campaign trail, most recently appearing at Republican candidate’s rally in Allentown, Pa., on Tuesday.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-C., began this election cycle as Trump’s primary opponent, but suddenly abandoned of the race in November, two months before the Iowa Caucuses and Trump claimed a few months later. The pair has connected during the former president’s first term shaping policy in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Trump’s closest allies in the Senate have been defenders of his brand of conservative populism. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was an early ally of Trump, who earned a reputation during his first term as a “Trump’s whisperer“who advised the former president on foreign policy and immigration.

He is also close to Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Montana Sen. Steve Daines, who are leading Senate Republican campaign resources this election cycle. And she has a long-standing relationship with Graham it sours periodically but returned regularly.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has a friendship with Trump that dates back to when he was governor of Florida. Scott said that friendship in a letter to colleagues announcing that he will run against Sens. John Thune, R-Texas, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to succeed McConnell, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

“I will protect the interests of senators while helping President Trump achieve his goals,” Scott wrote. “The success of our country and the success of our Conference will depend on the success of President Trump.”

Scott of course must first survive his own re-election race against former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., on Tuesday.

Most senators say Thune and Cornyn are the candidates with the best chance to win the Senate leadership job. Internal elections, also scheduled for Nov. 13, will be by secret ballot — so Trump’s influence could be limited, should he decide to intervene.

Both have baggage with the former president: Thune opposed Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and Trump went on to support his primary opponent in 2022. Thune originally endorsed Tim Scott for president this cycle, before to later support Trump. Cornyn also condemned Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, and later said he did not believe Trump could win another presidential race, but supported him in this election.

Thune and Cornyn have worked to mend their relationship with Trump. Each visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, spoke with his transition team and communicated with him several times throughout the year. Cornyn also spent time with Trump in Texas and a rally in Nevada — and was the lawmaker who managed to get most bills passed into law during Trump’s first term.

Looking across the aisle, Trump has not developed a reputation as a bipartisan negotiator, although some Democrats facing tough re-election campaigns in 2024 have touted his ability to work with the former president on key issues.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said that “provided billions for Trump’s border wall“and rejected efforts by the Biden administration to roll back Trump-era immigration policies, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, expressed working with Trump on trade issues to protect American workers. Rep. Jared Golden, Hon. Maine predicted in an op-ed that Trump would win the election and said: “I agree with that.“

A Trump victory would also open the door to further deals with Democrats. After all, the 2026 midterm campaign is next, and any Democratic lawmakers representing purple or red districts or states would likely expect to face political pressure at home to show they worked with Trump as president.