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ADVANCE RESERVATION SYSTEM Terms of Use AGREEMENT

1. General.

1.1 The Advance Reservation System (" ARS ") of the United States Capitol Visitor Center is a service provided to the public by the United States Congress to book reservations for tours of the United States Capitol. The ARS is owned and managed by the Office of Visitor Services through the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (" AOC "). This Terms of Use Agreement (" Agreement ") sets forth the legally binding terms for your use of the ARS. By using the ARS you agree to be bound by this Agreement, whether you are a "Visitor" (which means you are browsing the ARS website) or you are a "Member" (which means you have registered as a user of ARS). The term "User" refers to both a Visitor and a Member. You are only authorized to browse this website or use the ARS service (whether your use is intended or unintentional) if you agree to abide by all applicable laws and to this Agreement. Please read this Agreement carefully and save it. If you do not agree with this Agreement you should leave this website and discontinue use of ARS services immediately. If you wish to use this website and make use of the ARS service, you must read this Agreement and indicate your acceptance as outlined below, or during the registration process.

1.2 This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect while you use the ARS website. If you are registered with the ARS you may terminate your registration at any time, for any reason, by following the instructions found on the ARS website. The AOC may terminate your use of the ARS website at any time, without warning and without reason, at no liability.

1.3 The AOC reserves the right, in its discretion, to change or modify all or any part of this Agreement at any time, effective immediately upon notice published on this website. Your use of the website following any change or modification constitutes your binding acceptance of these terms and conditions, including any changes or modifications made by the AOC. If at any time the terms and conditions of this Agreement are no longer acceptable to you, you should immediately cease use of the ARS website.

1.4 You should, at all times, ensure that your contact information is updated with the ARS website. If you need to update any of your online and/or off-line contact information, please follow the instruction on the ARS website.

2. Use of Content.

2.1 You acknowledge that the ARS website contains information, software, photographs, audio and video clips, graphics, links and other material that are owned by the AOC or other United States governmental agencies (collectively, the "Content"). You agree to comply with any notices, information, or restrictions contained in any Content available on or accessed through the ARS website. Users of the ARS website may use the Content only for their personal, non-commercial, use.

2.2 You may not modify, publish, transmit, transfer or sell, reproduce, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display, or in any way exploit any of the Content, in whole or in part. Content consisting of downloadable software may not be reverse-engineered. You grant to the AOC the right to edit, copy, publish, distribute, translate and otherwise use in any medium and for any purpose any content that you place on the ARS website without compensation to you. You represent and warrant that you are authorized to grant all rights set forth in the preceding sentence.

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2.4. Any information you provide to the ARS website may be used by the AOC and the United States Government, without any compensation to you.

3. Rules of Conduct.

3.1 By using the ARS website you agree not to:

(a) Use the ARS website for any unlawful reason, or in a manner prohibited by this Agreement.

(b) Post any content which is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive, harassing or threatening;

(c) Post content which contains viruses or other contaminating or destructive features;

(d) Post content which violates the rights of others, such as content which infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or violates any right of privacy or publicity; or (d) otherwise violates any applicable law or regulation.

(e) Make any part of the ARS website available as part of another service by hyperlink framing, "deep linking" or otherwise. You may not link the ARS website to, or post links on the ARS to, other websites.

(f) Use the ARS website for any commercial purpose, nor shall you distribute any advertising or solicitation of funds or goods and services or solicit users to join competitive online services.

(g) Use any false or inaccurate information for purposes of registering as a user of the ARS website, or for purposes of registering for any promotions offered through the ARS website;

(h) Allow any other person or entity to use your username or password for posting or viewing comments or sending or receiving materials or use the account of another user for any purpose;

(i) Sell or otherwise transfer your user status; or

(j) Delete or revise any material or other information of any other user or the AOC;

(k) Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses;

(l) Take any action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on the ARS website?s infrastructure;

(m) Use any device, software, or routine to interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the ARS website or any activity being conducted on the ARS website;

(n) Use any engine, software, tool, agent, or other mechanism (including, without limitation, browsers, spiders, robots, avatars, or intelligent agents) to navigate or search the ARS website other than (i) the search engine and search agents available from the AOC on the ARS website and (ii) generally available third party web browsers (e.g., Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer) (if applicable);

(o) Attempt to decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any of the software comprising or in any way making up a part of the ARS website.

You further agree not to violate or attempt to violate the security of the ARS website, including, without limitation, actions such as:

(a) Accessing data not intended for you or logging into a server or account that you are not authorized to access; (b) Attempting to probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of a system or network or to breach security or authentication measures without proper authorization; (c) Attempting to interfere with service to any user, host, or network, including, without limitation, by way of submitting a virus to or overloading, "flooding," "spamming," "mail bombing," or "crashing" the ARS website; (d) Sending unsolicited e-mail, including promotions and/or advertising of products or services; or (e) Forging any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any e-mail or posting.

Violations of system or network security may result in civil or criminal liability.

4. Managing Content.

4.1 The AOC is not responsible for any content posted to the ARS website by users. The AOC reserves the right to delete, move or edit any content that it may determine, in its sole discretion, violates or may violate this Agreement or is otherwise unacceptable. You shall remain solely responsible for all content posted by you.

5. No Endorsement.

5.1 The AOC does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any content posted on the ARS website and you acknowledge that any reliance upon such content shall be at your sole risk.

5.2 The ARS website may contain links to sites on the Internet, which are owned and operated by third parties (the " External Sites "). You acknowledge that the AOC is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through any External Site. You should contact the site administrator or Webmaster for those External Sites if you have any concerns regarding such links or the content located on such External Sites.

6. Indemnity.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold the AOC and the United States Government and its agents or officers (collectively, the " US Government ") harmless from and against any and all claims, liability, losses, costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the US Government in connection with any use or alleged use of the service under your user name by any person, whether or not authorized by you. The AOC reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to cooperate with the AOC?s defense of such claim.

7. Termination of Service.

7.1 The AOC may change, suspend or discontinue all or any aspect of the ARS website at any time, including the availability of any feature, database, or Content without prior notice or liability.

7.2 The AOC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to restrict, suspend or terminate your access to all or any part of the ARS website at any time, for any reason, without prior notice or liability.

7.3 Failure to adhere to this Agreement may result in the restriction, suspension or termination of your access to all or any part of the ARS website without prior notice or liability.

8. Cancellation of Your Tour of the United States Capitol

The U.S. Capitol reserves the right to suspend scheduled tours at any time and for any reason.  To cancel your tour of the United States Capitol, please have your confirmation number available.  You may cancel your tour at visitthecapitol.gov or by calling 202-226-8000.

9. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

9.1 THE AOC MAKES NO WARRANTIES THAT THE ARS WEBSITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE; NOR DOES THE AOC MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE, ITS SERVICES OR ITS CONTENT. THE ARS WEBSITE, THE SERVICE PROVIDED AND THE CONTENT WITHIN ARE DISTRIBUTED ON AN "AS IS, AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. THE AOC DOES NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE ARS WEBSITE, ANY CONTENT OR ANY SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE ARS WEBSITE. THE AOC DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ANY FILES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING THROUGH THE ARS WEBSITE WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR SIMILAR CONTAMINATION OR DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICE AND THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENT IS ASSUMED SOLELY BY YOU.

9.2 NEITHER THE AOC NOR ITS AGENTS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACT, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

9.3 THE AOC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE IN ANY WAY, AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION, AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH CHANGES. THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY EVEN IF THE AOC OR THE US GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUCH DAMAGE.

9.4 THE AOC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CANCEL YOUR RESERVATION, OR REVOKE YOUR STATUS AS A USER AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON. THE AOC WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH NOTIFICATION OF SUCH CANCELLATION OR REVOCATION.

9.5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATEMENT TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE AOC DOES NOT WAIVE ITS, OR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIABILITY, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES YOU MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND ASSUME ALL RISKS INHERENT IN THE USE OF THE ARS WEBSITE.

10. Miscellaneous.

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, and the parties irrevocably consent to bring any action to enforce this Agreement in the federal courts located in Washington, DC.. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous written or oral agreements between the parties with respect to such subject matter. All provisions hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement as well as any other revisions which by their terms or sense are intended to survive.

11. Severability and Integration.

Unless otherwise specified herein, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the AOC and governs your use of the ARS website. If any portion of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, that portion shall be construed in a manner consistent with applicable law to reflect, as nearly as possible, the original intention of the parties, and the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

This Agreement is accepted upon your use of the ARS Website or any of the ARS Services and is further affirmed by you becoming a registered group. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and AOC regarding the use of the ARS. The failure of AOC to exercise or enforce any right or provision of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision. The section titles in this Agreement are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect. This Agreement operates to the fullest extent permissible by law. If any provision of this Agreement is unlawful, void or unenforceable, that provision is deemed severable from this Agreement and does not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.

Please contact us at: 202-226-8000 with any questions regarding this Agreement.

I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED ABOVE.

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Exhibition Hall: E Pluribus Unum

Current Exhibition

• Legislative Highlights
• Congress and the War of 1812
• Conflict and Compromise II
• Conflict and Compromise I
• Instruments of Change
• Congress and the Civil War II
• Congress and the Civil War I
• April 2010 - September 2011
• October 2009 - March 2010
• April 2009 - September 2009
• December 2008 - March 2009
• Views of Exhibition Hall
• Capitol Story
• Take an Interactive Tour
• Image Gallery
• Take the Capitol Challenge
• 1945-Present
• Building a More Perfect Union

Welcome to Washington, DC, the nation’s capital. You will find an abundance of cultural, educational, and just plain fun attractions and events here. Start your trip planning with the useful resources below.

United States Congress

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Book a tour, look at a Capitol map and find other useful information. The mission of the Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol is to provide a welcoming and educational environment for visitors to learn about the unique characteristics of the House and the Senate and the legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol.

Map of Capitol Grounds The Capitol, House and Senate office buildings.

Map of Accessible Transportation at the Capitol Accessible entrances and transportation servicing the Capitol and surrounding buildings.

Virtual Tour of Capitol Explore the nation's Capitol, including the old and current House chambers.

Library of Congress

Each of “America’s Library buildings”, named for a U.S. President (Adams, Jefferson, and Madison), contains millions of cataloged books and other print materials on 530 miles of shelving is a world-renowned research center for scholars easily accessible to both Congress and the public. Special exhibitions —including a permanent display of the Gutenberg Bible, the first book printed with movable type—make the Library a favorite tourist attraction. First Street and Independence Avenue, SE.

Supreme Court of the United States

“Equal Justice Under Law” is the promise on the portals of the Supreme Court building.Court sessions begin the first Monday in October and continue two weeks per month through April. Courtroom seats are available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis when the Court is in session. Twenty-minute courtroom lectures are available every hour on the half-hour when the court is not in session. Group tours are available and must be made in advance. First and East Capitol Streets, NE.

United States Botanic Garden

Located at the base of Capitol Hill, the conservatory features more than 20,000 plants, including exotic flowers and fruit species. First Street and Maryland Avenue, SW.

Washington, D.C.: Map of U.S. Capitol Building

The U.S. Capitol Building  is a monument, office building, and internationally recognized symbolism of democracy. This map shows the location of the Capitol Building, the Capitol Visitor Center , and the West Lawn in Washington, D.C.

The Capitol is on the east end of the National Mall at East Capitol Street NE and First Street SE. The Senate office buildings are on the north side, and the House office buildings are on the south side the building. 

The Capitol grounds are open to visitors. Free annual concerts are held on the West Lawn (nearest access is Northwest Drive) on  Memorial Day , the  Fourth of July , and  Labor Day . 

The main entrance to the visitor center is underground on the east side of the building. The visitor center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day.

Maps, Directions, and Transportation Options to the U.S. Capitol Building

Getting to the u.s. capitol building.

The Capitol is bordered by Constitution Avenue NE to the north, Independence Avenue SE to the south, and First Streets to the east and west.

By car : From the George Washington Memorial Parkway, take I-395 North to C Street NW. Take Exit 9 to First Street NW. From the Baltimore Washington Parkway, take State Highway 295 to I-695 to C Street NW to Exit 9 to First Street NW.

Parking is limited near the U.S. Capitol Building. The best place to park is at Union Station  on 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE. There are more than 2,000 public parking spaces. For more options, see this guide for parking near the National Mall.

The Capitol Visitor Center offers free shuttle service for those with mobility issues. The shuttles run from the southwest corner of Capitol Square at Independence Avenue and First Street SW to the visitor center entrance at the center of the Capitol’s East Plaza. To arrange for a shuttle, call 202-224-4048.

By Metro :   The closest Metro stations are Union Station, Capitol South, and Federal Center SW. See a guide to using the Washington Metrorail .

By bus : The   DC Circulator Bus includes stops near the U.S. Capitol Building. Take the Union Station-Navy Yard route and get off at Independence Avenue SE.

By bicycle : Capital Bikeshare  offers short-term bike rentals at hundreds of stations throughout the Washington, D.C., area. You can join for a day, three days, a month, or a year. Take a bike from any station and return it to the station of your choice. The closest kiosk to the Capitol is at 400 East Capitol St. NE.

Map of the Area Surrounding the U.S. Capitol Building

This map shows the U.S. Capitol Building and the surrounding area including the locations of the closest Metro stations: Capitol South, Federal Center SW, and Union Station (northeast of the Capitol off Massachusettes Avenue NE).

Many of Washington, D.C.'s most popular attractions are within walking distance. To the west is the National Mall, the Smithsonian Museums , and the National Memorials.  To the east are the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress .

Capitol Hill is an interesting neighborhood to explore and has many great restaurants, parks, and other attractions. Read more about Capitol Hill .

Washington, D.C. National Mall Maps and Information

The National Mall: What to Know Before You Go

What to See and Do on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Two Days in Washington DC: A 48 Hour Itinerary

Union Station Map and Directions: Washington DC

Union Station, Washington DC: The Complete Guide

One Day Tour Itinerary in Washington, DC

20 Best Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

Where Is Capitol Hill in Washington?

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington DC: Tours & Visiting Tips

Capitol Hill Photos

Capitol Hill: Exploring the Washington, DC Neighborhood

U.S. Botanic Garden

National Memorial Day Concert 2020 in Washington

Labor Day Concert in Washington, DC

How Can I Tour the Monuments & Memorials in Washington, DC?

No trip to washington, dc is complete without touring our celebrated monuments and memorials..

Touring DC’s iconic attractions

When you come to DC, especially if you’re a first-time visitor, it’s likely that our world-famous monuments and memorials will be at the top of your must-see list. Most of these major attractions are located on the National Mall , which extends from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, with many of them running along Constitution Avenue.

Many of the monuments and memorials are open 24-hours a day, 365-days-a-year and you do not need to make advance reservations. These include the  Lincoln Memorial ,  Jefferson Memorial ,  National World War II Memorial , the  Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial , the  FDR Memorial and the  Vietnam Veterans Memorial .

These National Park Service (NPS)-run memorials are usually staffed by NPS Rangers who can answer your questions from 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Rangers also conduct various tours and special programming throughout the year. Visit the National Mall calendar page for more information.

Tours that require tickets

There are several major attractions that do require advance tickets. These tickets are usually free or have a minimal charge.

Tickets are required to go to the top of the recently reopened Washington Monument .  Tickets may be  ordered online  for tour dates up to 90 days in advance, while additional tickets listed as "Not Yet Released" are made available the day prior to the desired tour date at 10 a.m. EST. Same-day tickets are also available on a first-come, first-served basis daily starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Washington Monument Lodge, located on 15th Street between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW.

Tour groups in United States Capitol Building Rotunda - Attractions and landmarks in Washington, DC

Tours of the  U.S. Capitol also need to be arranged in advance. Free reservations can be made via the  visitthecapitol.gov website. Guided tours begin at the Capitol Visitor Center and include a 13-minute intro film, along with visits to the Crypt, the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. Visitors can also request a staff-led tour through their Senator or Congress person.

When court is not in session, visitors can take free, self-guided  tours of the  Supreme Court . Trained docents are on-hand to give courtroom lectures every 30-minutes from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors are also invited to attend oral arguments when court is in session. These seats are extremely limited. Visitors must wait in line the morning of a courtroom session. See the  Visitor’s Guide to Oral Arguments page for more information.

Admission to both the  Bureau of Engraving and Printing (see where U.S. dollars are made!) and the  National Archives (home of the original U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights) are free and open to the public. In busier months, you’ll need to queue in an outdoor line to get inside.

Please visit our touring the White House guide  for more information on booking a tour (Note: these tours must be booked well in advance).

Great options for guided tours

The highly acclaimed Unlimited Biking offers daily, three-hour guided bicycle tours of the monuments with stops at all of the major attractions along the National Mall. Unlimited Biking also offers tours after dark so that visitors can experience magnificent views of the attractions illuminated at night. Big Bus Tours offers open-top sightseeing tours of the National Mall. Enjoy 24 or 48-hour hop-on, hop-off tours of the city's iconic landmarks. Along the way, you can learn about the city's history while listening to the entertaining and informative commentary. Your hop-on, hop-off ticket also allows you to exit the bus to explore and visit attractions up-close.  Get an exclusive discount and save big on  your next Big Bus Tour . Just enter the promotional code VISITDC for the best available deal and start exploring the nation's capital.

Adventure DC Tricycle Tours  offers live and entertaining historical narration as they transport you via pedicab to each monument and memorial. You can enjoy a customized tour that is pet-, child-, and mobility-impaired-friendly. Additionally, private golf cart and electric scooter tours are available. Public scooter tours are open to the general public on Saturdays, with limited availability. The code "DCFUN" will secure a discount on the public scooter tour.

Cruise around the nation's capital in style on Washington, DC Urban Adventures ' unique electric vehicles, where you can see the monuments and memorials on the National Mall by day or night.

For a truly unique way to see the city,  Capital Segway Tours  offers guided experiences of the National Mall and surrounding sites. Visitors glide across town on a Segway, all while taking in the sites of Washington, DC.

DC by Foot  offers free, tip-based walking tours of Washington, DC. These informative tours are conducted by expert guides who make it fun and educational. In addition to the National Mall, DC by Foot takes visitors to the Tidal Basin, Pennsylvania Avenue and Capitol Hill. Visitors can also learn all about President Lincoln’s assassination or about Washington’s secrets and scandals.

Contact  Fiat Luxe Tours  for an exciting private tour experience along the National Mall. Whether you want to learn the history of DC's most iconic landmarks or find the most perfect photo-ops, Fiat Luxe Tours has a tour for you. The company also conducts custom-made tours, too. 

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• Donald Trump

Trump Returning to Capitol Hill to Meet With Republican Lawmakers, a First Since Jan. 6 Attack

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is making a triumphant return to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans, his first since sending the mob to “fight like hell” ahead of the Jan.6, 2021 attack, as GOP lawmakers find themselves newly energized and reinvigorated by his bid to retake the White House.

Despite the federal charges against Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, and his recent guilty verdict in an unrelated hush money trial, the Republican former president arrives Thursday emboldened as the party's presumptive nominee. He has successfully purged the GOP of critics, silenced most skeptics and enticed once-critical lawmakers aboard his MAGA-fueled campaign.

“We’re excited to welcome President Trump back,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led one of the lawsuits challenging the 2020 election, and had his biggest fundraising day yet after Trump's felony conviction.

The Republican speaker demurred over whether he’s asked Trump to respect the peaceful transfer of presidential power and commit to not doing another Jan. 6. “Of course he respects that, we all do, and we've all talked about it, ad nauseum.”

Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks to both groups at the House and Senate campaign headquarters near the U.S. Capitol and discuss issues animating his campaign — including mass immigration deportations but also tax cuts and other priorities for a potential second term.

In between, Trump is expected to speak at the Business Roundtable downtown which routinely invites the presumptive presidential nominees to address the executives' group. Many potential priorities for a new White House administration are being formulated by a constellation of outside groups, including Project 2025, that are laying the groundwork for executive and legislative actions, though Trump has made clear he has his own agenda.

But the private meetings with House and Senate Republicans so close to the Capitol are infused with symbolism of Trump’s return as the U.S. president who threatened the American tradition of the peaceful transfer of presidential power.

“It’s frustrating,” said former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who made his own unsuccessful run for Congress as a Maryland Democrat in the aftermath of Jan. 6, when police engaged in hand-to-hand fighting to stop Trump supporters who stormed the building trying to overturn President Joe Biden's election.

Dunn spoke of the “irony” of Trump returning to the area and lawmakers now embracing him. “It just shows the lack of backbone they have when they’re truly putting party and person over country," he said. "And it’s sad.”

Many of those who once stood up to Trump are long gone from office and the Republicans who remain seem increasingly enthusiastic about the possibility of him retaking the White House, and the down-ballot windfall that could mean for their own GOP majorities in Congress.

Johnson met with senators on Wednesday ahead of Trump's arrival as the Republicans mapped out potential priorities.

Outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who once blamed Trump for the “disgraceful” attack that he called an “insurrection” now endorses the party’s presumptive nominee and said: "Of course I’ll be at the meeting.”

Sen. John Thune, the GOP whip who is vying to replace McConnell as leader, told The Associated Press that he’s interested in hearing from Trump about the fall election and “ways in which we, as a team, and him individually can appeal to the constituencies and people that may not traditionally vote Republican.”

Thune said, “I think there’s an opportunity there to really make this a big win.”

As democracies around the world come under threat from a far-rightward shift, experts warn that the U.S. system, once seemingly immune from authoritarian impulses, is at risk of populist and extremist forces like those that Trump inspired to sack the Capitol.

“This is just another example of House Republicans bending the knee to Donald Trump,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus.

Making Jan. 6 a cornerstone of his reelection campaign, Trump celebrates those who stormed the Capitol as “warriors” and “patriots,” and he has vowed to pardon any number of the more than 1,300 America convicted of crimes for the assault on the seat of U.S. democracy.

Moreover, Trump has vowed to seek retribution by ousting officials at the U.S. Justice Department, which is prosecuting him in a four-count indictment to overturn the election ahead of the Jan. 6 attack and another case over storing classified documents at his Mar-A-Largo home.

Republicans, particularly in the House but increasingly in the Senate, are vigorously following his lead, complaining of an unfair justice system. The House voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress and is re-investigating the House committee that investigated Jan. 6.

Alongside Trump, the House and Senate GOP campaign arms scored some of their highest fundraising periods yet after a jury found him guilty in the New York hush money case.

When former GOP Speaker Paul Ryan on Fox News reiterated this week that he wouldn’t be voting for Trump and wished Republicans had another choice for president, he was immediately ostracized by Trump allies.

“Paul Ryan, you’re a piece of garbage," said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. "We should kick you out of the party.”

Of the Republicans who voted to impeach Trump over Jan. 6 and convict him on the charge of inciting the insurrection, only a few remain in office.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, are not expected to attend Thursday's closed-door session with Trump.

But Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he would likely join the Trump meeting at GOP senators' campaign headquarters, expecting "he’s going to be the next president, so you have to work” together.

Asked if he was concerned about the direction of the Trump Republican Party, Cassidy: “Let the day’s own troubles be sufficient for the day. You can fill yourself up with anxiety about tomorrow, but will it change a thing? No.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who confronted Trump at times but did not join in the vote to convict him in the Capitol attack, said he did not expect the meeting to be contentious as Republicans hope to seize the Senate majority this fall.

“Look, we’ve got to win. And our ability to get a majority in the Senate is intrinsically linked to Trump winning. So we’re like, one team, one vision. And I think that will be largely what we talk about,” Tillis said.

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Video Tour of the Capitol

Join one of our wonderful guides for this video tour of the U.S. Capitol. Narration by Emily Boisvert, Visitor Guide, U.S. Capitol Visitor Center