President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have privately reached out to GOP lawmakers in an effort to make peace after several public spates, CNN reports.
Since bashing Sen. Lisa Murkowski for not supporting one of the iterations to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump invited the Alaska Republican to a private lunch. Though not able to attend, the gesture was "very kind," Murkowski told CNN.
The White House publicly rebuked Sen. Bob Corker for his taking Trump to task over Charlottesville comments, but the Tennessee Republican and the president have since had a "constructive" private meeting, CNN reported.
Pence, too, reached out to Corker and others, including oft-targets of the president's in Arizona, Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake.
"I think it's like a thunderstorm," Sen. John Cornyn told CNN of his party's relationship with Trump. "After a while it clears up, the sun comes out and everything is OK."
The make-nice moments come at a critical time for the administration and congressional Republicans.
Senate Republicans are trying to pass last-ditch healthcare legislation before a Sept. 30 deadline with tax reform — or at least, tax cuts — also on the frontburner.
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