Republicans critical of Trump react to his return to the Capitol

What are you hearing from the Republican lawmakers after their closed door meetings? Well, a lot of the Republicans were very positive coming out of the meeting, even some of those who have been critical of the former president, believing that this is a good effort to try to unify a party that has been badly divided. And some of the dissenters in the Senate Republican meeting actually did not even attend the meeting. So there was really not much dissension that was voiced within the room. In fact, Susan Collins of Maine, someone who voted to convict Donald Trump, has not endorsed him, did not attend the meeting, neither did Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. And immediately after the meeting, I caught up with Senator Leagues from Makowski and I asked her about her concerns within about her party. Getting behind Donald Trump so quickly, even there has been some divisions. And whether she herself would support the former president. And you're still there's no chance you'll support him. I I've already made clear that I am not satisfied with either choice that we have. In as as Republicans or Democrats, was it awkward being at that meeting given your position on Trump? I'm I'm there to work for my state. I'm there for the work for our country. So it's not awkward to work for someone who Apollo show will be the next president. Did he make any did he make any reference to the conviction vote? So you're not supporting him yet, right? I don't know how. See you guys. And that last comment was from Senator Bill Cassidy, who was also one of the seven Republicans who voted to convict Donald Trump after January 6th, has not endorsed Trump yet. And I'd asked him there if he's still going to support him now. But he didn't say that. But he did indicate that he believed that this was a positive meeting, which was the the comments of the most members voiced even as Donald Trump gave a rather unwieldy, sometimes rambling speech to his to both the House and the Senate, talking about a variety of things, airing out a number of grievances, criticizing the conviction against him as terrible, calling the Justice Department. No good bastards for one of them. For one, not talking much about policy. But he did counsel Republicans about not going too far on the issue of abortion, warning them about political backlash if they do. And that certainly is one that has divided his party, but one he recognizes could be a problem for his party politically if it's not handled the way voters want them to.