Americans for Prosperity (AFP) may be in the doghouse with President Trump, but it is increasing its footprint on Capitol Hill as it advocates for its top priority this year: Extension of the president’s 2017 tax cuts.

The libertarian-conservative Koch-funded group got a boost in that endeavor when it hosted Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday for a “congressional conversation” with Guy Benson, a Fox News Contributor and member of AFP’s advisory council.

It took place at AFP’s Capitol Hill outpost, which the organization calls its “Freedom Embassy” – a relatively new office located just a block away from the epicenter of GOP Hill politics, the Capitol Hill Club and the Republican National Committee.

The event came together relatively quickly, I’m told, and at an opportune time: After making a “prayer request” at the AFP event, Johnson defied expectations and ushered the House budget resolution — which sets a framework for the tax cuts AFP wants and other major items in Trump’s legislative agenda — across the House floor Tuesday evening.

AFP in January launched a $20 million campaign in support of extending the Trump tax cuts that he signed into law in his first term. The organization pledged a 50-state media and lobbying effort and to conduct 1,000 meetings with congressional offices on Capitol Hill.

I got a preview of the next moves in that “Protect Prosperity” campaign:

• Mid-March AFP state director fly-in with “hundreds” of meetings with lawmakers on the Hill
• Ads with testimonials from “real people” and their concerns about a tax hike
• State-based events with members of Congress

While AFP hasn’t taken a position on the House’s “one big beautiful bill” play on Trump’s legislative agenda —which will include tax cuts among the priorities —versus a two-step approach pitched by Senate Republicans, the organization was aligned with Johnson in saying that it is important to build on momentum as soon as possible.

Brent Gardner, AFP’s Chief Government Affairs Officer, warned that “momentum is fleeing” and it should be Republicans’ “number one goal” to extend the tax cuts so Americans feel the benefits “well before the midterm elections.”

“It would be a major mistake to assume the results of the election mean renewing President Trump’s tax cuts is going to be easy. The margins are razor thin and we’re all seeing just how tough this can be — even before diving into the substance of the legislation,” Gardner said.

AFP’s moves on to build inroads on Capitol Hill come despite bad blood with Trump, who is still furious that AFP Action backed his GOP primary opponent Nikki Haley.

Trump in January........

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