Here’s what Trump is planning.
President Trump announced on Wednesday that he would be having lunch with a group of Democrats next week. While the specific invitees remain unclear, the meeting marks a notable moment for potential bipartisan dialogue.
During his remarks at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute gathering in Miami, Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing the current direction of the Democratic Party. He called it the “party of some really bad things” and emphasized that change was necessary for their success. “I think they’ll change,” he said, adding, “I think they have to change.”
The former president shared his hopes for cooperation, stating, “I’m going to be having lunch with some of the Democrats next week, and it would be wonderful if we could work together.” Trump emphasized that for meaningful collaboration to occur, Democrats would need to move away from the radical policies that have defined their agenda in recent years. “You can’t get elected on the programs that they want,” he noted.
When pressed on who would be attending the meeting, Trump kept the details under wraps, teasing reporters by saying, “You’ll see when I do it. Some good ones. Some biggies.”
The gathering represents a rare opportunity for Democrats to directly engage with Trump, despite the party’s harsh criticism of his leadership style in the past. One Democrat who has shown openness to dialogue with the former president is Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Before the 2020 inauguration, Fetterman met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Reflecting on their conversation, Fetterman described the encounter as “cordial” and “positive,” emphasizing that it was an honest discussion rather than a photo-op or political stunt.
For many Republicans, this outreach signals Trump’s continued commitment to bridge the partisan divide and champion the values of common sense and American prosperity over radical leftist policies.