GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan in his primary race at a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisc., Friday evening.
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The GOP nominee also reversed his initial refusal to back Sen.
House Speaker Paul Ryan cited a scheduling conflict, while Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he’d attend an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner instead of appearing with his party’s standard bearer. “John McCain for his service to our country in uniform and in public office”, Trump said in a monotone voice, reading from a prepared text.
He said in the same interview that Mr McCain had not done enough for veterans and criticized Ms Ayotte for distancing herself from him during the campaign.
“Welcome to Wisconsin, Mr. Trump, but let’s get something straight – we are Ryan Republicans here in Wisconsin, not Trump Republicans”, Vos wrote in an open letter published Friday morning, urging Trump to come around and endorse Ryan.
“I like Paul, but these are terrible times for our country”, Trump told the Washington Post in an interview Tuesday.
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. Trump’s reticence echoed the same hesitation Ryan expressed when Trump locked up the party’s presidential nomination in May. “Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire – a state I truly love, primarily because that was my first victory”, Trump said, referring to his primary win in the state back in February.
Mr Ryan, the highest-ranking Republican official, faces a Tuesday primary in his home state of Wisconsin against Paul Nehlen. Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos offered a blunt message ahead of the presidential nominee’s arrival: “We are Ryan Republicans here in Wisconsin, not Trump Republicans”. “And very importantly, toward real change”, Trump said. “We will work together”. Kelly Ayotte, who has been publicly critical of Trump’s recent feud with the Khan family.
And in another show of primary establishment support, Trump also backed New Hampshire Sen.
But, through this endorsement, Trump, for now, has assuaged any fears that the party would grow further divided, proving to both his party and those Republicans still wary of his campaign that he can steer clear of internal battles and focus wholly on his Democratic rivals.
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”.
Mr Ryan, the top USA elected Republican, had no plans to attend the event, in a sign of lingering frictions between the pair.
Later in a fund raising email to his supporters, Trump alleged that the Democrats and the mainstream media are doing everything they can to divide the Republican party.
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“I don’t throw babies out”, Trump said.
