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WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump met privately Thursday with officials from the Republican National Committee, including its chairman Reince Priebus. Trump has fumed in the past about his relationship with the RNC, saying he has not been treated fairly in instances where the RNC acts as a go-between when coordinating debates and overseeing intraparty affairs.
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But after Thursday's meeting, an upbeat Trump tweeted "Just had a very nice meeting with Reince Priebus and the GOP. Looking forward to bringing the party together -- and it will happen!"
Trump has called for the GOP establishment to embrace his candidacy, which has garnered massive media attention. Those calls have not always been heard, however.
Forces within the Republican establishment have been deeply resistant to Trump's in-your-face style and to many of his positions, particularly on illegal immigration, but also foreign policy and trade. Trump assails free-trade agreements like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which most Republican leaders support.
Earlier this week, Trump reneged on the RNC pledge he signed, promising to support the party's eventual nominee. Trump has said whoever goes to the GOP convention in Cleveland with the most delegates should win the nomination, even if that candidate does not have 1237 delegates, the minimum required under party rules to win on the first ballot.
Trump has also flirted in the past with waging a third party candidacy, should he feel slighted by the Republicans.
A spokesman for the RNC declined to comment on the nature of the meeting with Trump.
While in Washington, Trump was also set to meet with his newly formed foreign policy team, and with congressional supporters who are organizing a campaign committee to act as a liaison between Trump's campaign and congressional Republicans.
