Ryan’s spokesman in a statement responded: “Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement”.
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A knowledgeable Republican source told CNN that some of Trump’s campaign staff – even campaign manager Paul Manafort – “feel like they are wasting their time”, given Trump’s recent comments. We need very, very strong leadership.
Mirroring the language Ryan used about supporting Trump before his eventual endorsement, Trump told the newspaper he was “not quite there yet” in endorsing Ryan, the highest ranking elected Republican, in next Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary. Trump said he was “viciously attacked” and questioned why Khan’s wife stood silently during her husband’s speech.
Trump’s stunning slap at two of the nation’s most prominent Republicans dramatically escalated GOP turmoil barely a week after a convention meant to promote party unity.
Trump in the Post interview did not say whether he would endorse either candidate but said “I’m giving very serious consideration to that whole situation, to Ryan, to Paul”. “And we are confident in a victory next week regardless”.
Trump has now seen fit to reward Ryan’s cooperation by praising his primary opponent Paul Nehlen.
The billionaire celebrity famous for retaliating when he feels insulted, also refused to endorse McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam who Trump previously derided for having been captured.
“Kelly Ayotte has given me zero support, and I’m doing great in New Hampshire”, he said.
“We need loyal people in this country”, Trump added in the interview.
Both Ryan and McCain had criticised Trump’s feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death.
Kelly Ayotte, who also admonished Trump for his comments.
On Tuesday, retiring New York Representative Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to say he will vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in November instead of Mr Trump. “We don’t need weak people”.
McCain, who originally endorsed the NY businessman in May, reiterated his support for Trump later on in his statement.
Ryan’s primary is August 9.
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Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week’s Democratic convention to cite their son’s sacrifice and criticise Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States. He then said that Trump could “screw up” the presidential race by endorsing him, but declined to explain what he meant by that.
