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House Speaker Paul Ryan says he was encouraged by today's meeting with Donald Trump, but that it will take time to unify the Republican Party. (May 12) AP
House Speaker Paul Ryan(Photo: Cliff Owen, AP)
Based on everything we know about them, it’s hard to imagine Paul Ryan endorsing Donald Trump.
But it’s even harder to imagine him not doing it.
“It’s hard to preside over the convention of your nominee and not support him,” says Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole, a friend and House colleague of Ryan’s, who like many in the party expects an endorsement to come.
USA TODAY
Sunday shows discuss meeting between Speaker Paul Ryan and Donald Trump
“The speaker’s number one job is to help maintain the (GOP) majority, and a rift between the nominee and the speaker is not going to be helpful in the fall campaign,” says Cole.
“I would be surprised if he doesn’t get there, because he wants to get there,” Reince Priebus, a close friend, fellow Wisconsinite and chairman of the Republican National Committee,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said Sunday when asked<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on ABC’s This Week<span style="color: Red;">*</span>if he expects Ryan to endorse Trump.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus answers questions from The Associated Press about Thursday's face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin May 13, 2016, at RNC headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)
When Ryan agreed to be House speaker last fall, he took a job that’s famous for ending careers, that came with the baggage of a divided party and divided government, and that typically means making everyone unhappy.
One of the few political benefits was that it gave Ryan an excuse for staying out of a wild and ugly fight for the GOP nomination.
That’s gone now. Ryan’s party is nominating the Republican most likely to make him squirm, and neutrality isn’t an option for the highest-ranking GOP office holder in America.
“This is a real quagmire for him,” said U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat who likes Ryan and made that comment with sympathy, not glee.
Ryan is conservative in ideology and moderate in tone. Trump is immoderate in tone and populist, nationalist and changeable in ideology.
USA TODAY
SNL mocks Donald Trump for acting as his own publicist
Ryan supports expanded trade, a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants and cutting entitlement spending. Trump is running against trade deals, wants to deport illegal immigrants and says Ryan’s entitlement cuts are political suicide.
The House speaker has been giving speeches this year extolling decorum and decency and respectfulness toward one’s opponents. Trump has redefined how profane and personal a candidate can be and still succeed in national politics.
Ryan has close friends (like Priebus) who are counting on him to back his party’s nominee. He has friends and supporters who are appalled by Trump and will be deeply disappointed if Ryan endorses him.
Ryan has House colleagues who believe his failure to back Trump would further divide Republicans and damage their election prospects. He has other GOP colleagues who think they need to distance themselves from Trump this fall to survive.
The Janesville, Wis., lawmaker represents one of the most<span style="color: Red;">*</span>anti-Trump states and congressional districts<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in the 2016 primaries. Yet it’s his job to chair the convention that nominates Trump.
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump wins Indiana, dimming hopes of contested convention | 1:05Despite Ted Cruz's extra effort in the state, Donald Trump won Indiana.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILDonald Trump: 'Cruz one tough competitor' | 1:38Donald Trump took a moment to congratulate Ted Cruz on his hard fought campaign calling Cruz "one tough competitor" after thanking voters in Indiana for his big win in the state's Republican presidential primary. (May 3) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILShould Trump worry about Cruz and Kasich working together? | 1:42Trump has called his Republican presidential opponents and desperate. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump calls Cruz-Kasich deal 'pathetic' | 1:54Donald Trump says his Republican rivals are "pathetic" after joining forces to try to block him from winning the GOP presidential nomination before this summer's convention. Ted Cruz and John Kasich are defending their alliance. (April 25) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Clinton Is 'As Crooked as They Come" | 1:44Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump vamped up attacks against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton while campaigning in Hagerstown, Maryland Sunday ahead of the state's primary. (April 24) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Final Push Ahead of Tuesday's 5 Contests | 1:35Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is making last minute stops in states along the Eastern seaboard ahead of primaries in five states next Tuesday. (April 22) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Camp: Candidate Will Be Seen Differently | 2:26His general-election appeal in question, Donald Trump and his senior team are both promising anxious Republicans that voters will see him in "a real different way" soon after the GOP front-runner claims his party's presidential nomination. (April 22) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Not Ready to Act Presidential 'Quite Yet' | 2:01Donald Trump's top advisers were promising Republican leaders that the front-runner would moderate his message but the candidate was telling voters he wasn't ready during a raucous rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Thursday. (April 21) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Rails Against Clinton Following NY Primary | 1:11Donald Trump says he'd be "happy" running against Hillary Clinton, telling supporters he would "beat her so badly" in the general election. Trump brought up questions regarding her use of a private email server, calling her "crooked Hillary". (April AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Says Not Surprised By 'Incredible' NY Win | 0:49Trump called his victory in New York 'incredible' but was not surprised that he did so well in the state's primary election. (April 20) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILCruz brushes off Trump's win in New York | 1:44Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz downplayed Donald Trump's win in the New York presidential primary at a campaign rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Wednesday. (April 20) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILFront-runners score big wins in New York primary | 2:38Front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton swept to victory with ease in Tuesday's New York primary, with Trump bouncing back from a difficult stretch in the Republican contest and Clinton pushing closer to locking up the Democratic nomination. AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: 'We don't have much of a race anymore' | 1:56Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won an easy victory in his home state of New York Tuesday night, confidently declaring that it was impossible for his rivals to catch him. (April 19) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILDonald Trump basks in New York primary victory | 0:44Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said it had been an "incredible evening" on Tuesday as he looked set to clinch the New York primary by a wide margin. Trump spoke at his Trump Tower building in Manhattan. (April 19) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump wins NY, causing issues for #NeverTrump movement | 0:51The winner may not be a surprise, but it's still a big victory for the billionaire.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILDonald Trump casts vote in New York | 1:27A New York media circus surrounded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as he cast his vote in Manhattan for the state's primary. (April 19) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump accidentally refers to '7/11' terror attack | 0:26Republican front-runner Donald Trump mistakenly referred to the convenience store chain 7-Eleven when speaking of the September 11, 2001, terror attack on the World Trade Center. Wochit
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILDelegates up for grabs on Primary Day in New York | 1:09USA TODAY's Paul Singer breaks down the possible outcomes from today's presidential primaries in New York. New York's presidential primary could play a significant role in determining the presidential nominees for the first time in decades. USA TODAY
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Meets With Minority, Women Backers in NYC | 1:08A group of Donald Trump's minority and women voters say they don't believe he is bigoted and are serving as his "eyes and ears on the ground." (April 18) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Delegate system is '100% crooked' | 1:29Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Sunday that while he thinks he will win the delegates needed to get the GOP nomination, the system is still "rigged" and "corrupt. (April 17) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: My rallies among 'safest places' on earth | 1:14Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump said his rallies "are among the safest places to be on Earth" during a speech to supporters in Connecticut. He made the comments during a rally in which several protesters were kicked out. (April 15) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump supporters rally against Colorado GOP | 1:24Donald Trump's backers on Friday demanded that the Colorado Republican Party reverse the results of caucuses that led to Trump getting shut out of Colorado delegates. (April 15) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump blasts Cruz, Kasich, and Republican Party | 1:37GOP frontrunner and outsider Donald Trump hammered his two remaining opponents, Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich during a campaign rally in Syracuse, N.Y. He also blasted the GOP nominating process as corrupt. (April 16) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: I'd get electric chair for f-bomb | 1:13Campaigning in Plattsburgh, New York, the GOP presidential candidate referred to an expletive that former Mexican President Vincente Fox recently used in a TV interview. Trump said he'd get the electric chair if he used the same word. (April 15) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump in Pittsburgh: 'How's Joe Paterno?' | 0:32Donald Trump asked a Pittsburgh crowd 'How's Joe Paterno?' The former football coach died in 2012. A spokesman reportedly says Trump meant the Paterno statue that Penn State removed after a child sex scandal involving his assistant coach. (April 14) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump campaign manager incident with reporter | 0:32Here is security footage of the interaction between Donald Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and reporter Michelle Fields. Jupiter, Florida Police released video of the incident. VPC
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: I'm Running for President to 'Give Back' | 1:35Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told supporters in Pittsburgh Wednesday that he's running for president to "give back." Trump spoke at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center ahead of the April 26 Pennsylvania primary. (April 13) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Losing Ground to Cruz in Delegate Chase | 1:52Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is lagging behind Sen. Ted Cruz in the race to line up national delegates who will support him -- something that could be problematic in the case of a contested convention this summer. (April 12) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Election System 'A Dirty Trick' | 1:19Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called the Republican primary elections a 'dirty trick' in at a rally in New York Tuesday, referring to the weight placed on delegates. (April 12) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILFight breaks out at Albany, N.Y. Trump rally | 0:39Video from the Albany Times Union shows two men in the crowd at a Donald Trump rally Monday night fighting. (April 12) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Cruz 'does not like' New Yorkers | 1:19Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took aim at Ted Cruz during a rally in Albany, New York Monday, saying that Cruz 'does not like the people of New York,' citing comments he made about 'New York values.' (April 11) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILWatch Donald Trump Slam the Delegate System | 1:12After he lost five states over the weekend, Donald Trump criticized the way delegates are awarded in the Primary elections. Time
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: We have the safest rallies anywhere | 0:46A week ahead of New York's primary election, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told supporters in Rochester that his rallies are 'the safest rallies of anywhere'. (April 10) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILRaw: Trump Visits 9/11 Memorial and Museum | 0:38Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump paid an impromptu visit to the September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York. He spent some thirty minutes there, and left without speaking to reporters. (April 9) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILKirstie Alley endorses Donald Trump, ticks off Twitter | 1:11It looks like the actress spent some time defending her choice for president.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump attacks Cruz, delighting home crowd in new York | 1:15Donald Trump attacks his Republican rival Ted Cruz and ignores his crushing defeat in Wisconsin, electrifying thousands of passionate supporters at a home state rally in New York. Video provided by AFP Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL5 things to know about Melania Trump | 0:50Melania Trump could be the next First Lady of the United States. During her husband's campaign, she's mostly avoided the spotlight. Here are 5 things to know about Mrs. Trump. VPC
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump and Cruz claim Kasich's just a spoiler | 4:07Mark Halperin and John Heilemann discuss John Kasich and which candidate he hurts more by staying in the race for the Republican presidential nomination on "With All Due Respect." Bloomberg
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILMelania Trump Makes Rare Appearance in Wis. | 1:15Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is responding to criticism over his comments about women, bringing out his wife, former model Melania Trump, to offer her praise. (March 4) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILHow Donald Trump's son-in-law is shaping his campaign | 1:19Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, reportedly plays a large role in Trump's presidential campaign, helping write speeches and mend relationships.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: being presidential would be 'boring' | 1:39Donald Trump often says that he could act more presidential than any other candidate. But he said Monday that wouldn't be nearly as much fun. He spoke to a crowd in Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday's primary. (April 4) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Predicts 'Very Big Victory' in Wisconsin | 1:08On the eve of the Wisconsin primary, Donald Trump predicted he'll have "a very, very big" victory. Just a couple of days ago, he was on the defensive, complaining about the coverage he's received. On Monday, he was singing a different tune. (April 4) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump: Kasich Should Not Be Allowed to Run | 1:33Front-runner Trump says Ohio governor John Kasich, who's only won his home state among the many nominating contests so far, shouldn't be allowed to keep accumulating delegates if he has no chance. (April 3) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILIn Wisc., Trump Tries to Regain Campaign Footing | 1:12Weighed down in controversy and trailing with Wisconsin GOP voters ahead of the state's primary, Donald Trump toned down his rhetoric and tried to clarify his views on NATO and nuclear weapons during a campaign appearance in the Badger State. (April AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Criticizes Iran Deal; Calls Obama 'Baby' | 1:12Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump railed against President Obama and the Iran nuclear deal at a rally in Wisconsin on Friday, saying he was 'like a baby' after expressing that Iran has yet to follow the spirit of the deal. (April 2) AP
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump backs off of abortion 'punishment' comments | 2:09With his latest comments about abortion, Trump has received the ire of both pro-choice and pro-life groups.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump, Cruz and Kasich take back vow to support Republican nominee | 2:45USA TODAY's Paul Singer breaks down the GOP issues as all three remaining Republican presidential contenders retracted their pledges to support whomever becomes the eventual Republican nominee during a CNN town hall Tuesday. USA TODAY
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump Met With Protests in Janesville, Wisconsin | 0:47While campaigning in Janesville Wisconsin, Donald Trump was met, again, with large groups of protestors. The protests, which seemed to fade since the violence in Chicago, are now sparking back up as Trump continues his swing through the midwest. The Wochit
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILPolice say teenager was groped and pepper-sprayed outside trump rally | 1:01Police say they're looking for two suspects: one for the sexual assault and one who pepper-sprayed the teenager. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump, Cruz And Kasich back away from their RNC loyalty pledges | 1:12Despite signing a pledge and recently promising their support, the GOP candidates now don't seem so sure they'll back the party's nominee.Video provided by Newsy Newslook
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DONALD TRUMP ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILTrump stands by campaign manager Lewandowski | 0:53Donald Trump says he's standing by his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski after he was charged with simple battery following an altercation with a female reporter. (March 29)
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In withholding his support, the speaker expressed two kinds of concerns about Trump. The first involves policy and philosophy and whether Trump is committed to conservative ideas and principles. Those concerns can probably be overcome, since differences on issues can be negotiated or overlooked.
But the second set of concerns — about Trump’s tone and language and divisiveness— may be tougher for Ryan to swallow, given how different their political styles and voices are.
Over the years, Ryan has told the GOP it shouldn’t be the “angry white male party” (2008); that it shouldn’t run on “bitter” emotions like “fear of people who aren’t like us” (2010); that it shouldn’t campaign on “vague platitudes” (2012”); and that it shouldn’t “attack people personally” (2008).
Ryan<span style="color: Red;">*</span>gave a speech to House interns<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in March saying politics should be a “battle of ideas, not insults.” He gave a talk to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>students at Georgetown University<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in April lamenting the “vitriol” of today’s politics. And<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he said earlier this month<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that it was time to set aside “bullying” and “belittlement.”
USA TODAY
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But it’s hard to go from giving speeches on civility to embracing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the man who called<span style="color: Red;">*</span>his top Republican rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a “pussy.”
And it’s hard for Ryan to count on a toned-down Trump when the candidate has embraced his own unpredictability and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>ridiculed the notion<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he needs to be “presidential.”
Asked if Trump offered any assurances in their private meeting Thursday that he would be changing his tone, Ryan declined to say.
“I want to keep the things we discussed between the two of us, because they’re very important and they’re personal in some senses,” Ryan said.
“I want to keep the things we discussed between the two of us, because they’re very important and they’re personal in some senses.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan after meeting with Donald Trump
“All candidates change over the course of a campaign … Trump probably will change more than most simply because this is his first campaign and it’s for the highest office in the world,” said Cole, the Oklahoma Republican. “So I would expect him to change and evolve over the course of the campaign. (But) I wouldn’t care to predict how. I think that’s the great challenge here … he’s very unpredictable. So if you’re running (your own) race, you wake up any morning (and) you’re going to have somebody with a microphone in front of you saying, ‘Your candidate said this last night. Do you agree or disagree?’”
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Ryan’s Wisconsin colleague, described Ryan earlier this year as “walking on eggshells” over Trump, calling him out when he said things that were “anathema"<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to him, but constrained by his neutrality as chairman of the GOP convention.
Now, the same prominence in his party (convention chair, House speaker) that allowed Ryan to reserve judgment on Trump makes it untenable to keep doing so.
This is the latest in a series of pivot points in Ryan’s political career that have all taken place in his early to mid-40s: his selection as Mitt Romney’s running mate in 2012, their November defeat, becoming House Ways and Means chair, getting drafted as speaker and now the Trump decision, which has been heightened by his own qualms and hesitation.
USA TODAY
Trump, Ryan pledge to work together — but no endorsement
That hesitation has bought him a tiny bit of time. Trump’s candidacy won’t become any less polarizing or unpredictable in that time, but pressure within the party to get behind him will grow.
In the coming weeks, Trump could “behave” and work “constructively” with House Republicans in ways that make it all but impossible for Ryan not to endorse him.
Or Trump could be Trump, and do and say things that make their political embrace that much harder for Ryan than it is already.
Follow Craig Gilbert on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Twitter: @WisVoter<span style="color: Red;">*</span>
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