US President Donald Trump has invited a group of GOP lawmakers including Republicans in competitive races to dine with him Wednesday night at the White House as many in the party press the president to unleash his massive war chest ahead of the November elections, according to five people with direct knowledge of the matter.
They, like others, were granted anonymity to discuss private planning. Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden confirmed the event in a brief interview with
POLITICO.
“Of course,” Van Orden said when asked if he would go to the dinner.The White House plans to hold the dinner in the Rose Garden, according to two of the people who know about the invitation.
Other House Republicans in tough races who were invited and plan to attend include Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) and Georgia Senate nominee Rep. Mike Collins, along with a wider group of GOP lawmakers.
The White House invited at least several dozen lawmakers, according to two people familiar with the invitation list. The dinner also comes ahead of next week’s GOP midterm convention in Dallas, though attendance from Republican lawmakers is expected to be mixed. Barrett, for example, said in an interview Tuesday he is not planning to attend the convention and will instead campaign and spend time with his family. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Republicans are facing mounting electoral headwinds from the war in Iran, higher gas prices and new tariffs as they fight to hold onto their narrow congressional majorities in November.
GOP incumbents are also eager for new infusions of resources to help dull Democrats’ attacks over voters’ cost-of-living concerns. Speaker Mike Johnson recently met with GOP megadonor Elon Musk, who has said he will spend millions to back the GOP again this cycle.
Trump’s political operation, MAGA Inc., has used little of its $400 million war chest to support GOP lawmakers. But he recently helped boost Sen. Darline Graham over the line in her heated primary, with the group spending more than $800,000 on phone calls and texts for the political newcomer.
Senate Republicans are eager for Trump to start spending for Ken Paxton in Texas as he has thus far been outspent on the airwaves by Democrat James Talarico and his allies.
