Washington, D.C. – In the first of three highly anticipated meetings with GOP party leaders, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump acquitted himself quite well this morning. Trump’s meeting with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan ended late Thursday morning, with Priebus tweeting out his thoughts on the meeting:
The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity.
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) May 12, 2016
Trump and Ryan released a joint statement after the meeting, calling it “a very positive step toward unification.” The statement acknowledged the “few differences” between the two while emphasizing the “many important areas of common ground.”
Speaker Ryan has not endorsed Trump yet, but the meeting at the very least represents a respite from what had been an unrelenting Civil War between party leaders and its presumptive presidential nominee. Trump’s efforts to unify a fractured party will continue when he meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell next.