Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell break the ice after years of silence

By Jon Michael Raasch, Political Reporter In Washington, D.C., For Dailymail.Com

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After ignoring each other for four years former President Donald Trump and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell broke the awkward ice and spoke during a meeting Thursday. The bad blood between the two - which began after Trump first began denying the 2020 election results and amplified after the January 6 riot - could be water under the bridge now.

After ignoring each other for four years former President Donald Trump and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell broke the awkward ice and spoke during a meeting Thursday. The bad blood between the two - which began after Trump first began denying the 2020 election results and amplified after the January 6 riot - could be water under the bridge now.

At a meeting with GOP Senators near Capitol Hill meant to coalesce the party around their presumptive presidential nominee, McConnell sat at Trump's right side as he addressed the conference. At one point the former president even patted the 82-year-old senate Republican on the back and exchanged brief remarks with his former foe, Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo., who was in the room exclusively disclosed to DailyMail.com.

At a meeting with GOP Senators near Capitol Hill meant to coalesce the party around their presumptive presidential nominee, McConnell sat at Trump's right side as he addressed the conference. At one point the former president even patted the 82-year-old senate Republican on the back and exchanged brief remarks with his former foe, Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo., who was in the room exclusively disclosed to DailyMail.com.

'I didn't, you know, hear any other conversation, but he was very gracious when Trump came in, you know, McConnell had chosen to sit on Trump's right hand and so he went right over to him, shook his hand first,' Hawley said. 'It was warm,' he continued. 'It was a bit of a pat on the back kind of, and then he did that afterwards, too.'

'I didn't, you know, hear any other conversation, but he was very gracious when Trump came in, you know, McConnell had chosen to sit on Trump's right hand and so he went right over to him, shook his hand first,' Hawley said. 'It was warm,' he continued. 'It was a bit of a pat on the back kind of, and then he did that afterwards, too.'

'So yeah, there was and there was no little barbs, which would be easy to do,' he continued. On Tuesday McConnell signaled that he and Trump had put their differences aside, but left reporters hanging on whether the two would break their silence.

'So yeah, there was and there was no little barbs, which would be easy to do,' he continued. On Tuesday McConnell signaled that he and Trump had put their differences aside, but left reporters hanging on whether the two would break their silence.

'I said three years ago right after the Capitol was attacked that I would support our nominee regardless of who it was, including him,' McConnell said at a press event. 'I've said earlier this year I support him, he has earned the nomination by the voter all across the country,' he continued, adding 'and of course I will be at the meeting tomorrow.'

'I said three years ago right after the Capitol was attacked that I would support our nominee regardless of who it was, including him,' McConnell said at a press event. 'I've said earlier this year I support him, he has earned the nomination by the voter all across the country,' he continued, adding 'and of course I will be at the meeting tomorrow.'

Although the Senate minority leader held his cards close to his chest on whether he and Trump would mend their rocky relationship, the two came together as Trump rallied support from Republicans in the chamber and told them his priorities. Hawley recounted that Trump focused heavily on the border and economy.

Although the Senate minority leader held his cards close to his chest on whether he and Trump would mend their rocky relationship, the two came together as Trump rallied support from Republicans in the chamber and told them his priorities. Hawley recounted that Trump focused heavily on the border and economy.

Also, 'He talked about the no taxes on tips,' Hawley said. Over the weekend, Trump touted a plan to cut taxes on tips - a popular policy among the many service workers he was addressing in Las Vegas.

Also, 'He talked about the no taxes on tips,' Hawley said. Over the weekend, Trump touted a plan to cut taxes on tips - a popular policy among the many service workers he was addressing in Las Vegas.

'For those hotel workers and people that get tips you are going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips,' he said as the audience cheered. Any effort to change the tax system would have to go through Congress - and it seemed that the Senate GOP caucus was on board with his proposal.

'For those hotel workers and people that get tips you are going to be very happy, because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips,' he said as the audience cheered. Any effort to change the tax system would have to go through Congress - and it seemed that the Senate GOP caucus was on board with his proposal.

Hawley also highlighted how Trump has received a lot of flak in recent years from members of the Senate, saying he's got 'a lot of persistent critics.' But, he added, 'Almost all of them were in that room happy to be with him.'

Hawley also highlighted how Trump has received a lot of flak in recent years from members of the Senate, saying he's got 'a lot of persistent critics.' But, he added, 'Almost all of them were in that room happy to be with him.'

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Josh HawleyCapitol HillDonald TrumpPolitics