W.Va. senator: ‘I hope that President Trump plays a role’ in upcoming elections

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va) said on Sunday that she hopes former President Trump “plays a role” in the 2022 and 2024 elections, though she refrained from saying whether she would support another presidential run by him.

Dana Bash, host of CNN’s “State of the Union,” asked Capito if she would support a Trump 2024 presidential run, noting the senator had condemned his actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as “disgraceful.”

“Well, I think that is a really premature question. And I think Jan. 6 still is very vivid in many of us who were at the Capitol that day, in our minds, as a very sad day for our country,” Capito said. “The Republican Party is strong. We have got a lot of folks who are not just looking to lead into 2022 but into 2024. So we will see. I hope that President Trump plays a role. I don’t know whether he will run or not, but we can sort that out as time goes on.”

During a Fox News interview broadcast on Monday, Trump said he was looking at a run “beyond seriously” but wouldn’t push the notion further.

“I am looking at it very seriously, beyond seriously. From a legal standpoint, I don’t want to really talk about it yet. It’s a little too soon,” Trump said.

During the same interview on Sunday, Capito, who sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, discussed the infrastructure bill that was proposed by GOP lawmakers last week, saying she had received “encouraging signs from the White House.

“Yes, I have. Yes, I have. Very encouraging signs,” Capito said when asked if the White House has responded since the plan was unveiled. “I saw what Jen Psaki on her — in her comments. And I have talked with others. And we are circling back on Monday to figure out the best strategies forward. I have talked to our ranking members. I have talked to my committee chairmen. I have talked to Democrats. This is an active conversation, and I think that it’s a good beginning.”