Donald Trump said he’s not endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan – or a number of other high-profile Republicans seeking re-election – in a sign of shattering party unity that a GOP strategist said threatens to overshadow Hillary Clinton’s shortcomings.
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Might Trump’s brush-off of Ryan and praise for Nehlen hurt Ryan with GOP voters who like and support Trump? “It’s something we need to watch very carefully”. “I believe we need Paul Ryan in leadership in the Congress of the United States”. “I’m not quite there yet”.
Trump also claimed Ryan had asked for his support, something Ryan’s aides denied. Trump’s phrasing of his uncertainty about Ryan – “I’m just not quite there yet” – echoes what Ryan told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a May interview about endorsing Trump: “I’m just not ready to do that at this point”.
Hanna, who is retiring from the House of Representatives rather than seek re-election, said his decision was prompted by Trump’s attacks on the parents of Captain Khan, who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004. “And we are confident in a victory next week regardless”, said spokesman Zack Roday.
Trump’s latest interview deepens a split with McCain, who has periodically slammed the real-estate mogul’s remarks. Trump said the grieving father had “no right” to criticize him, only later acknowledging their son is a hero. After months of Trump promising to adopt a more presidential tone, Republicans are beginning to lose hope of a pivot for the general election.
“Well, I don’t know if it’ll have any impact on my election”, Nehlen said.
But numerous people around McCain have abandoned Trump, including members of his family and some of his former top aides, including Mark Salter.
And whither McCain, whose belated criticism of Trump’s attack on the Khans was dutifully described as “blistering” by the D.C. press corps, but who refused to foreswear his support for “the Republican nominee”.
The public split between the running mates comes amid reports that Trump’s campaign is in disarray over a series of unforced errors by the candidate.
Trump and Ryan have had a hard and tense relationship over the past few months. Yet thus far, McCain, Ryan and other Republicans who’ve reluctantly declared that they plan to back Trump for president appear to be sticking with him. But Bradshaw and Comella are among a group of top Republican operatives, messengers, national committee members and donors who continue to decry Trump’s tactics, highlighting nearly daily – with fewer than 100 days before the election – the fissures created by the billionaire and his takeover of the party.
Meanwhile, friction is increasing between Trump and top Republican leaders.
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Apparently, Trump is still considering whether or not to support Ryan, having second thoughts on whether he represents the “strong leadership” required. What does this say about your party that this is your standard bearer?
