Rep. Duncan Hunter speaks during a news conference held by House Republicans at the Capitol on May 29, 2014, in Washington, D.C. | Getty Top Trump ally on Capitol Hill: He snubbed us

One of Donald Trump's top allies in Congress slammed the presumptive GOP nominee after he failed to meet with rank-and-file lawmakers backing his campaign during his ballyhooed trip to Capitol Hill on Thursday.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) told POLITICO that Trump refused multiple requests to meet with members of Congress working to round up support for him in Washington.


“I think it would have been good of him" to meet with "the first endorsers," Hunter said, as well as those who've gotten on board more recently, Hunter said. “There is no reason not to have as many people on your side as you can … and he missed a real opportunity here.”

Trump met with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and several others in leadership during a series of meetings on Thursday morning.

His most ardent congressional backers, however, asked his campaign several times for a few minutes with the candidate, too. They thought it would energize the team running traps to whip support for him in Washington. They also wanted Trump to meet with a core group of committee chairs they thought would make for powerful future allies.

Hunter said the complaint isn't about his ego, contending that face time with rank-and-file lawmakers would actually have helped Trump in the long run by making it easier for them to vouch for the candidate with voters in their districts.

“If they endorse him, then go back to their districts to say they’ve met him and he’s not crazy, it goes a long way,” Hunter said. “It helps if you can say, 'I met the guy' ... and can be beneficial for Trump, too.”

An aide to another Republican lawmaker backing Trump, however, called Hunter's criticism a bit much.

"These concerns about access are overblown. The early endorsers have had a number of opportunities to meet and talk with Donald Trump. Today’s meetings with Speaker Ryan and the House Leadership are direct outgrowth of those discussions," the aide said. "It is expected that Mr. Trump will be in Washington a great deal in the weeks ahead, providing new opportunities for members to continue their dialogue."