Trump's closing remarks at donor summit interrupt GOP peace

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a joint statement with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Former President Donald Trump plans to affirm his commitment to the Republican Party — and raise the possibility that someone else will be the GOP's next presidential nominee — in a closed-door speech to donors Saturday night, April 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a joint statement with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. Former President Donald Trump plans to affirm his commitment to the Republican Party — and raise the possibility that someone else will be the GOP's next presidential nominee — in a closed-door speech to donors Saturday night, April 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - It was supposed to be a unifying weekend for a Republican Party at war with itself over former President Donald Trump's divisive leadership. But Trump interrupted two days of relative peace in his closing remarks to the GOP's top donors when he insulted the party's Senate leader and his wife.

Ahead of the invitation-only speech at Trump's new home inside his Mar-a-Lago resort, the former president's advisers said he would emphasize his commitment to his party and Republican unity.

Trump veered from prepared remarks Saturday night and instead called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a "stone-cold loser" and mocked McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, who was Trump's transportation secretary.

Trump also said he was "disappointed" in his vice president, Mike Pence, according to multiple people in attendance who were not authorized to publicly discuss what was said in a private session.

He said McConnell had not thanked him properly for putting Chao, who was labor secretary under President George W. Bush, in his Cabinet.

McConnell's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did not defend Trump on Sunday as he left Palm Beach.

"We are much better off if we keep focusing on the Democrats. Period," Gingrich said.

Saturday's speech was the final address of the Republican National Committee's weekend donor summit in Palm Beach. Most of the RNC's closed-door gathering was held at a hotel a few miles away from Mar-a-Lago.

While a faction of the Republican Party hopes to move past Trump's leadership, the location of the event - and the former president's prominent speaking slot - suggests the GOP, at least for now, is not ready to replace Trump as its undisputed leader and chief fundraiser.

Ahead of his latest attack on fellow Republicans, Trump's team reported his remarks were intended to reinforce his continued leadership role in Republican affairs, a sharp break from past presidents.

"Saturday's speech will be welcomed words to the Republican donors visiting Mar-a-Lago to hear directly from President Trump," Trump adviser Jason Miller said. "Palm Beach is the new political power center, and President Trump is the Republican Party's best messenger."

The new tension between Trump and establishment- minded Republican leaders comes as GOP officials are trying to play down an internal feud over his role in the party, his commitment to Republican fundraising and his plans for 2024.

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., was among 10 House Republicans who joined every Democrat in voting to impeach Trump for inspiring the Jan. 6 attack. Seven Republican senators later voted to convict Trump, even after he had left office.

"The former president is using the same language that he knows provoked violence on Jan 6. As a party, we need to be focused on the future, we need to be focused on embracing the Constitution, not embracing insurrection," Cheney told CBS' "Face the Nation."

While the Republican National Committee signaled its commitment to Trump by hosting its spring donor summit at his doorstep, Trump's commitment to the GOP is far from certain.

Earlier in the year, he raised the possibility of creating a new political party.

Just a month ago, Trump's political action committee sent letters to the RNC and others asking them to "immediately cease and desist the unauthorized use of President Donald J. Trump's name, image, and/or likeness in all fundraising, persuasion, and/or issue speech."