Some Republican leaders and members of Congress met with GOP presidential front runner Donald Trump in Washington Monday, including Representative Tom Reed of the Southern Tier.
Reed recently came out in support of Trump, and during a conference call with reporters Monday, Reed said the meeting with the candidate was useful.
“It was a great start, and developing and continuing the relationship with Donald Trump, and as we go forward, we’re going to use our influence to make sure we’re focusing the campaign as best as possible on what is most important to the American people and that is creating the jobs of today and tomorrow and getting this country going in the right direction.”
Reed had originally backed Jeb Bush, and then had said he would trust the voters to select the Republican who should be their nominee. Reed says recent primaries show that millions of Americans want Donald Trump to be their presidential candidate in November.
When asked by WXXI News if he was bowing to pressure from Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino to support Trump, Reed said that was not the case, he says he just wants to get the party unified behind Trump. Paladino reportedly said he would rally his supporters against members of Congress in New York State who have remained neutral in the race.
