Republicans are working on a big political summit next week: Donald Trump and Paul Ryan.
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Ryan, his party’s 2012 vice presidential nominee, had been seen as a possible “white knight” candidate who could emerge as an alternative to Trump at a contested convention slated to be held in July.
John McCain, the party’s 2008 nominee, said this week he would – albeit not with a full-throated endorsement – support Trump.
Ryan’s declaration yesterday sent shockwaves through the Republican establishment – an establishment that Trump is now leaning on for help as he transitions from the primary season to a general election campaign. “And we have work to do on this front, and I think our nominee has to lead in that effort”.
Next week’s meeting, Priebus said, will “start the process of unifying”. “This is not entertainment”.
President Barrack Obama had warned the United Kingdom about leaving the European Union last month, stating it would go “to the back of the queue” for trade deals with the USA if it left.
“I understand Jeb Bush”.
In a statement after Ryan’s remarks, Trump shot back: “I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan’s agenda”. Wrong, I didn’t inherit it, I won it with millions of voters!
As the reality of those divisions sank in Friday, some Republicans were not shy about expressing their displeasure with Ryan.
“Yesterday’s statement emboldens others to be equally publicly hard. Why do we need to support the Republican nominee?” he said. “And I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee”. Added Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania: “The voters of our party have spoken loud and clear, and it’s their voice that matters”.
Trump and Ryan also have disagreements on policy, from immigration to Social Security to trade.
“I would say that they are better off without it, but I want them to make their own decision”. Bush, who dropped out of the race in February, has said that he does not plan to vote for Trump.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, said Friday he would sit this election out because he can’t bring himself to vote for either Trump or Hillary Clinton.
Last time, the president targeted Trump during his Saturday speech at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Ryan, in a televised interview Thursday, said he was not yet ready to support Trump as the GOP nominee. He’s just not there yet.
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“I’m going to pick a Republican and we’ll have a tremendous victory”, Trump said today, noting he was particularly pleased to have the backing of former 2016 presidential campaign rival Rick Perry of Texas.
