Trump tries to rally House GOP but meanders along the way as the party's majority narrows

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that Republicans have “so many good nuggets” to campaign on this year as they try to hold onto their razor-thin margin in the House.

But the president’s nearly 90-minute speech before House Republicans had little in the way of a fresh policy agenda or a cohesive new message to guide the year. Instead, he meandered from defending his actions during the Capitol riot five years ago to joking about being liberal-minded to win the votes of transgender people to making head-scratching references to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's use of a wheelchair.

As he promised political “ammunition” to help Republicans, Trump emphasized the success of his 2024 presidential campaign, reminding the audience that he carried every swing state as he pondered why voters tend to turn against the party in power during midterm elections.

“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterms,” Trump said in remarks at the Kennedy Center, the performing arts venue that his allies recently renamed for him. “I wish you could explain to me what the hell is going on with the mind of the public.”

He warned that if Democrats regain control of Congress, “they'll find a way to impeach me.”

Trump's appearance at the GOP's policy forum was meant to ensure House Republicans and the White House were aligned on their agenda ahead of the November midterms that will determine control of Congress and the course of Trump's final two years in office. Rising health care costs, Trump’s expansive foreign policy pursuits and other issues are dramatically splitting the GOP, as some Republicans become more comfortable crossing party lines to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson and join proposals from Democrats.

It all points to a difficult year ahead for the president and his party, especially as the House’s slim majority narrowed Tuesday with the sudden death of California Rep. Doug LaMalfa, which was announced to lawmakers as they traveled to the performing arts center, and the resignation of former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which took effect at midnight.

But Trump spent more time rehashing past grievances during the appearance than articulating a broad election-year strategy or offering specifics on how he's addressing affordability concerns of voters.

“We won every swing state. We won the popular vote by millions. We won everything," Trump said, recounting the 2024 presidential election.

Trump mused about unconstitutionally seeking a third term as president and claimed it was never reported that he urged his supporters to walk “peacefully and patriotically” on Jan. 6, 2021, to the Capitol, where they rioted to try to overturn his election loss. He used his wife, first lady Melania Trump, to poke at Roosevelt, the former Democratic president who used a wheelchair.

According to the president, Melania Trump thinks the dancing he does at his rallies is not presidential.

“She actually said, ‘Could you imagine FDR dancing?’ She actually said that to me,” Trump said. “And I said there’s a long history that perhaps she doesn’t know.”

Trump did try to rally the conference at times, asserting that his first year back in office was so successful that Republicans should win in November on that basis alone. He briefly touched on Venezuela and the dramatic capture of deposed president Nicolás Maduro — calling it “brilliant, tactically.” He talked about money coming into the U.S. through tariffs and direct investment, and negotiations to bring down drug prices.

“You have so many good nuggets. You have to use them. If you can sell them, we’re going to win,” Trump said. He claimed that “we’ve had the most successful first year of any president in history and it should be a positive.”

House Republicans convened as they launch their new year agenda, with health care issues in particular dogging the GOP heading into the midterm elections. Trump declined to publicly counsel GOP lawmakers on how they should handle this week’s vote — pushed by Democrats and a handful of Republicans who broke from their party -- to extend insurance subsidies that expired at year’s end, or on how to deal with the next potential government shutdown just weeks away, all with a narrower majority.

“You can’t be tough when you have a majority of three, and now, sadly, a little bit less than that,” Trump said after paying tribute to LaMalfa, noting the challenges House Speaker Mike Johnson faces in keeping their ranks unified.

The president also noted that Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., was recovering after a “bad” car accident, further slimming Johnson’s vote margins.

Votes on extending expired health insurance subsidies are expected as soon as this week, and it’s unclear whether the president and the party will try to block passage. Trump urged Republicans to own the issue of health care, a policy that Republicans have long struggled on, and said the party should be “flexible” on abortion restrictions that have been well-established federal policy.

“You have to be a little flexible” on the Hyde Amendment, Trump told House Republicans. “You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity.” The Hyde Amendment is a decades-old policy that bars federal money from being spent on abortion services.

GOP lawmakers were hosting a daylong policy forum at the Kennedy Center, where the board, stocked by Trump with loyalists, recently voted to rename it the Trump Kennedy Center. The move is being challenged in court. Trump and Johnson are trying to corral Republican lawmakers at a time when rank-and-file lawmakers have felt increasingly emboldened enough to buck Trump and the leadership’s wishes on issues such as the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.

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An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that Rep. Jim Baird represents Wisconsin. Baird represents Indiana in the U.S. House.

President Donald Trump speaks to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson attends an annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump arrives at an annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump listens to a question during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 2, 2026--

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) today unveiled limited-edition America250 Coca-Cola cans at its Jacksonville manufacturing facility—one of the select locations in the country producing commemorative packaging representing all 50 states ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260402409814/en/

“Coca-Cola has been a unique and deeply rooted part of Americana for nearly 140 years,” said Troy Taylor, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Coke Florida. “As we celebrate this milestone, we’re proud to join our fellow bottling partners and The Coca-Cola Company in bringing these commemorative cans to life. This effort reflects our shared commitment to celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary while continuing to create meaningful connections with the communities we serve across Florida and beyond.”

Federal, state and local officials joined community leaders and Coke Florida associates for the unveiling event, which offered a first look at the commemorative cans as they moved through production lines—connecting Florida manufacturing directly to a once-in-a-generation national celebration.

Beginning April 6, the America250-themed Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar mini cans will be available at retailers across Florida. Consumers will find patriotic branding on various Coca-Cola packages and other brands distributed by Coke Florida, such as smartwater and Gold Peak. Specially wrapped Coke Florida delivery trucks will also travel throughout the state, extending the visibility of the campaign into local communities.

Following the unveiling, guests toured the Jacksonville facility, gaining behind-the-scenes access to the scale and precision of Coke Florida’s operations, from production and packaging to warehousing and distribution, underscoring the company’s role in delivering a beverage for every occasion across the state.

As a Signature Partner of America250, The Coca-Cola Company is helping bring people together to mark this historic milestone—continuing a legacy that dates back to 1886 of being part of moments that unite communities across generations. In addition to the production of commemorative packaging, Coke Florida will further support America250 through planned community engagement initiatives and local activations to be rolled out throughout 2026.

For more information about the unveiling event or inquiries related to Coke Florida’s America250 celebration activities, visit cokeflorida.com/america250.

About Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is a strategic bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company and a growth-focused consumer packaged goods company. We are one of the largest Coca-Cola bottlers in the United States with an exclusive territory that covers forty-seven counties in Florida. Coke Florida makes, sells, and distributes a portfolio of beverages for every occasion including sparkling soft drinks, waters, teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, and value-added dairy drinks. We drive positive economic impact in the communities we serve through employing over 5,000 associates and operating four GreenCircle Certified production facilities and eighteen distribution centers. Our investments in sustainability, education, and economic empowerment are the foundation of our commitment to helping build stronger communities. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Coke Florida is also one of the largest Black-owned businesses in the United States. The company has been recognized as a US Best Managed Company Gold Standard Winner by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. To learn more, visit www.cokeflorida.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Limited-edition America250 Coca-Cola mini cans produced by Coca-Cola Beverages Florida will be available starting April 6th across Florida.

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida celebrates the launch of America250 Commemorative Coca-Cola cans in Florida.