Donald Trump has endorsed US House Speaker Paul Ryan, ending a four-day stand-off which exposed deeps chasms in the Republican party over the billionaire’s presidential candidacy.
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“We may disagree on a couple of things – and mostly we agree”, Trump said, reading from “something I wrote down” and amid cheers from the crowd.
In his earlier interview for the Washington Post, Mr Trump had said he was “just not quite there yet” when asked if he would endorse Mr Ryan and Arizona Sen McCain.
“I like Paul, but these are disgusting times for our country”, Trump told the Post.
After his endorsements, Trump turned back to party unity and the need for Republicans to maintain their majorities in Congress. We need unity. We have to win this election.
“Well, to be perfectly candid with you, Jake, I’m just not ready to do that at this point. I’m not quite there yet”, Trump said.
The endorsement comes as Trump campaigned in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin Friday evening with his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
Ryan reiterated his support for Trump hours before the endorsement, but the Wisconsin Republican noted his support wasn’t a “blank check” and pledged to speak out against the businessman’s divisive positions if necessary.
In Wisconsin, Trump added, “She’s a monster”. “But I will do this because I feel I have to in order to defend Republicans and our principles so that people don’t make the mistake of thinking we think like that”.
“In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation”, he added.
Ryan endorsed Trump on June 2 after weeks of much-publicized reluctance and deliberation, and only after it was clear the NY billionaire was likely to be the party’s standard-bearer.
He has refused to admit any error, however, on a higher-profile dispute with an American Muslim family whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq. So extending an olive branch to Paul Ryan – the popular Republican representative of the 1st District of Wisconsin – looks like a strategic move for Trump if he wants the support of fellow Republicans hoping for a strong challenger to defeat Hillary Clinton come November.
“She’s a monster, okay”, said Trump.
It was the same phrase used by Mr Ryan before he finally endorsed the Republican presidential candidate.
While many prominent Republicans have either only given half-hearted endorsements of Trump, or no support at all, few Republican groups have given as strong of a condemnation of Trump.
“I also fully support and endorse Sen”.
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“Democrats and Paul Ryan are making back room deals with your future”, the ad says next, before mashing up Ryan and Kaine both saying “A Better Way” together.
