Trump seeks to rally House Republicans as their majority narrows

President Trump delivered a nearly 90-minute address to House Republicans that offered few new policy proposals while the party's slim House majority narrowed after the announced death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

President Donald Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes at a GOP policy forum at the Kennedy Center while House Republicans gather to set an agenda for the year. He emphasized his 2024 election success and promised political "ammunition," but critics noted a lack of a cohesive new policy plan. His remarks ranged from defending his actions around Jan. 6 to joking remarks about winning votes from transgender people and a reference to Franklin D. Roosevelt. The speech came as the Republican majority in the House became thinner after the announced death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Key points: - The address lasted nearly 90 minutes and included few detailed or new policy proposals for the midterm campaign. - Trump defended his conduct related to Jan. 6 and said he had urged supporters to walk "peacefully and patriotically," a point he said was underreported. - He stressed his 2024 campaign victories and warned that Democrats would seek to impeach him if they regained control of Congress. - The House GOP's slim majority narrowed with the announced death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the effective resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene; Rep. Jim Baird was also noted as recovering from a serious car accident. - Votes to extend expired health insurance subsidies are expected as soon as this week, and lawmakers face the prospect of a government funding fight with a reduced margin. - The forum was held at the Kennedy Center, which the board recently voted to rename the Trump Kennedy Center; that renaming is being challenged in court. Summary: The speech sought to align House Republicans and the White House ahead of a pivotal midterm year but offered limited new policy direction. The party faces a narrow governing margin and near-term votes on health insurance subsidies and government funding that will test its cohesion.