Trump, Republicans: An uneasy alliance | McClatchy Washington Bureau

Republican insiders will spend the next few months holding their breath, hoping Donald Trump is a worthy nominee.

Trump made the obligatory rounds on Capitol Hill Thursday, reassuring party and congressional leaders in a series of private meetings that he’s a responsible conservative, eager to lead them to big gains in November.

What emerged was a string of dispassionate statements. Leaders said kind things, yet there was a reserved tone to their words, as though they were engaging in diplomatic niceties rather than preparing for war against the Democrats.

Most are backing the billionaire businessman, but they remain concerned that at any instant, he might lapse into one of his trademark candid moments and embarrass them.

What Republicans who understand the nuances of everyday politics desperately seek is reassurance that Trump, the consummate Washington outsider, can act as though he’s one of them. They want him to avoid words and actions that embarrass the party, and to soften his more incendiary views.

The most prominent Trump holdout Thursday remained House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who kept saying he was encouraged by their meeting but would not offer an endorsement. Ryan has been concerned about Trump’s tone and wants to see more fealty to conservative thought.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who attended one of the Trump-Ryan meetings, called the session “a very positive step toward party unity.” Ryan and Trump issued a joint statement saying, “while we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground.”

Ryan is known for his mastery of and insistence on detail. He created six task forces in January to study different policies. They’re due to report their findings next month.

He wants his policy teams to meet with like-minded Trump teams to make sure everyone at least agrees on “conservative principles.”

There are serious differences between congressional Republicans and Trump:

– Trump suggested recently he would consider higher taxes on the wealthy. House GOP members are almost unanimously opposed;

– Ryan and House Republicans have favored overhauling Social Security and Medicare; Trump says those systems should not be touched.

– Many House Republicans want to overhaul the nation’s immigration system in a more measured way;

– Trump has argued against free trade partnerships; Ryan tends to favor such agreements.

Ryan is taking some political risk. His caucus is largely falling in line behind Trump. Seven committee chairman have endorsed him. Skeptics explained they have little choice.

The dilemma for Republicans is that Trump mastered the number one rule of politics: He won and won big, and that creates instant respect in the political world.

“While I may disagree with the rhetoric Mr. Trump uses and some policy positions, he is the better option than Hillary Clinton in the White House,” said Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Trump seemed to take one significant conciliatory step this week. In December, he urged a “complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” Wednesday, he noted he wanted a temporary ban, and told Fox News’ Greta van Susteren, “I’d like to back off on it as soon as possible.”

That’s politics, explained Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. “Within one day or two days afterwards – this happens in politics – you say something kind of sweeping and you come back and explain it,” he said.

It’s the sort of politics that makes a lot of Republicans uneasy. “I don’t know if he’ll say the same thing next week,” said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Ryan, though, gives party skeptics, as well as himself, an out if Trump detonates a fresh firestorm.

Republicans now control 246 of the 435 House seats and 54 of the Senate’s 100 seats. While the House majority is considered safe, it hasn’t been unusual in the past 10 years to see massive shifts in party control. With 24 Republican Senate seats up for election, a Democratic presidential landslide could easily put GOP control in jeopardy.

Ryan, the party’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, is ready as a rallying point, an alternative voice, in case nervous Republicans see themselves at risk.

Plenty of wary Republicans remain. House Republican Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., called Thursday’s meeting “an important first step.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of Trump's harshest Senate critics, said Thursday he spoke with Trump on the phone for 15 minutes Wednesday. While Graham is still not endorsing him, the senator said Trump has "got a great sense of humor."

Many Republicans still can’t use the words “Trump” and “endorse” in the same sentence. “I’m going to support the nominee,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who had earlier endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Can you enthusiastically support Trump, he was asked? “I enthusiastically support the nominee,” Tillis said.