The top Republican in the Senate says President Donald Trump was focused on his administration's priorities at a closed-door luncheon with GOP senators.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters shortly after the luncheon on Tuesday that they discussed the budget, taxes, confirmation of judicial nominees and Trump's upcoming announcement on the opioid crisis.
"Tax reform is what we are about. If there's anything that unifies Republicans, it's tax reform," said Sen. McConnell (R-KY).
Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander said they also discussed health care. Alexander said, "He wants to get it done and we're going to get it done."
Several Republicans said there was no interaction between Trump and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker after their angry exchange of insults Tuesday morning.
Trump spent about an hour and a half with Republicans at their weekly luncheon.
McConnell deflected any questions about the Trump-Corker feud.
House Speaker Paul Ryan hopes to the two will settle their differences. "I know Bob, who supported the budget, wants to get tax reform...I have long believed it's best to settle these things in person," said the Republican.
Senate Democrats view the infighting as an opportunity.
"This bill is not a middle class bill. Come with Democrats on a real tax reform bill...your plan your advisers put together with Republicans on the Hill doesn't do what you say it does," says Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Earlier, No. 3 Senate Republican John Thune of South Dakota said he hoped to hear Trump “drive home the message that he wants to be a partner, a constructive partner that helps us get accomplishments that help everybody.”
“If you have people who are running for re-election next year, whether it’s a House member or one of the senators who’s up this year, I think the best thing you can go back and talk about is that you got results,” Thune added. “And I think that to the degree the president delivers that message it will be very well received by Republican senators.”
Corker, who is retiring, recently suggested that Trump’s undisciplined rhetoric about international affairs could lead to World War III, leading an angry Trump to dismiss him as “Liddle Bob Corker.”
The tax plan crafted by Trump and Republican leaders calls for steep tax cuts for corporations and potentially for individuals. It would double the standard deduction used by most Americans, shrink the number of tax brackets from seven to three or four, and repeal inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. But crucial details of the plan have yet to be worked out, notably what income levels would fit with each tax bracket.
The House is expected to vote on the Senate's passed budget proposal this week. House leaders are aiming to unveil their tax bill sometime next week.
(The Associated Press also contributed to this report.)
