LANSING — President Donald Trump has been using Twitter to attack Republican legislative leaders over their failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Last week, Trump blindsided members of his own party when he cut a controversial deal with the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling and fund hurricane relief.

Distractions resulting from an ongoing and wide-ranging investigation by special counsel and former FBI director Robert Mueller threaten to further derail the Republican agenda, including the promise of corporate and personal income tax cuts.

Controversies surrounding the Republican president are captivating the country — and the world — and have some Republicans worried about how they will affect party fortunes in congressional midterms and other elections in 2018.

But don't look for those topics to be on the agenda when about 2,000 Republicans from Michigan and across the nation gather on Mackinac Island Sept. 22-24 for the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference — a major policy confab held every two years.

Party leaders say the conference will be all about unity, and the focus will be on what's happening in Michigan — not Washington, D.C.

"As a party, we support the president — we support his policies," Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser said in an interview.

"I don't think there's going to be any kind of controversy."

Tax reform, repeal and replace of Obamacare, immigration and infrastructure "are important and worthy of conversations," said state party spokeswoman Sarah Anderson. But "unfortunately, we have a limited time for the conference, so there wasn’t a space for panels on those issues."

In addition to Gov. Rick Snyder, other state Republican leaders and members of Congress, speakers will include Trump loyalists such as Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and U.S. Education Secretary and west Michigan businesswoman Betsy DeVos. Panel sessions will feature topics such as the influence of women in the party, successful Michigan business leaders, the news media, and "Michigan leading the nation" in terms of domestic policies and job creation.

More:President Trump losing support in Michigan

More:Michigan universities take a wait-and-see approach to Betsy DeVos sexual assault plan

Though he comes from a neighboring state and is maintaining a high profile after his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, don't look for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a frequent Trump critic, to be taking a ferry across the Straits of Mackinac.

The emphasis on unity is reflected in the conference theme, "Together We Rise."

The agenda, which is still being finalized, also includes former Michigan Gov. John Engler and former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who chaired the House oversight committee and is now a Fox News contributor.

Organizers had hoped U.S. Vice President Mike Pence would be among the speakers, but he is unable to attend due to security complications, Weiser said.

Away from the official agenda, statewide elections for 2018, such as the U.S. Senate contest against incumbent Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow and the race to replace Snyder, who is term-limited, are expected to dominate announcements on the Grand Hotel porch and receptions around the island.

In 2018, Michigan Republicans are hoping to match their performances in 2010 and 2014, when they swept all major state-level offices. They also want to add the one prize they haven't been able to grab since 1994 — election of a U.S. senator from Michigan.

Saul Anuzis, a former state GOP chairman who supported Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2016 primary, said it's unprecedented for there to be a well-organized and full-time wing of the party — what's become known as the 'never-Trumpers' — working against a president almost from the time of his inauguration.

While "I wouldn't be surprised if there were some demonstrations on the dock," Trump opponents won't have a platform at the conference, nor should they, he said.

"I don't think there's any serious discussion about any ... primary challenges" to Trump in 2020, Anuzis said. "If he decides to run for re-election, I think he'll win."

On Wednesday, the Free Press reported on an EPIC-MRA poll of Michigan voters that found Trump had a 76% approval rating among Michigan Republicans, but was below water in support from Independents.

Among those Michigan Republicans not on board with Trump is political consultant Katie Packer Beeson, a founding partner of Washington, D.C.-based Burning Glass Consulting, who supported Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in 2016.

Though the Trump controversies won't be on the agenda, "there will be discussions about Trump and the impact on the party," Beeson predicted.

"There's a lot of confusion right now," she said. "Most of these people kind of jumped on the Trump train because they disliked Hillary Clinton and that's what you do to win general elections, but they're not entirely secure as to where that train is headed."

Even if the Trump administration continues to head south, Michigan Republicans could be protected by the strength of the party and the fact Michigan Democrats don't have their act together, Beeson said.

But Beeson, as a believer in strong moral values and free trade, believes Republicans have "sold our souls" to support Trump, and said: "I don't know this party anymore."

Randy (Trucker Randy) Bishop, a conservative radio host who will attend the conference as chairman of the Antrim County Republican Party, said party members and candidates need to "back our president 100% — no matter what."

"Trump is playing three levels of chess while (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell and these clowns are playing checkers," Bishop said.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.