After days of Donald Trump’s public hesitation in backing House Speaker Paul Ryan during his Wisconsin primary race, the Republican presidential nominee endorsed Ryan Friday evening at a rally in Green Bay.
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Pence insisted that he and Trump see “eye to eye” on the issue, even though Pence and Trump disagree on whether to support House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has also criticized the NY businessman.
In a bid to bridge party divisions, Donald Trump formally endorsed prominent elected Republican leaders during a campaign rally on Friday, in Green Bay, Wis.
In recent days, Trump pointedly refused to endorse Ryan, the House speaker who faces a Republican primary challenge next week.
Mr Nehlen said Mr Trump’s decision “is appropriate and is a display of true leadership”.
“We believe that McCain, and other Republican leaders in the party like (House Speaker) Paul Ryan and (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell, have a responsibility to stand up and represent the values the Republican party has always been about, and not accept this kind of disrespect”.
“I am just going to rise above this stuff”, he said. “I’m not quite there yet”, Trump said at the time.
“Honestly, the endorsement that I personally care about is from the people here in Wisconsin, my 1st Congressional District employers”, Ryan told the local radio station.
“I also fully support and endorse Seantor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, a state a I truly love”, he added.
As Mr Trump sought to right the ship, and with fellow Republicans urging him to swiftly get back on message, he trained his fire on Mrs Clinton. This comes after Trump once said McCain was not a war hero because he “was captured”.
Though the group formally opposes Trump, its president Declan P. Garvey told members in an email Thursday that it will still coordinate with those who wish to campaign for Trump, reports the Harvard Crimson.
Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson’s re-election campaign has not yet responded to ABC News’ request for comment on whether he will attend Friday night’s rally.
“I may have short circuited and for that I will try to clarify”, Clinton said, though still insisting she “never sent or received anything that was marked classified”.
“It’s time to change a rigged political system that works only for the insiders and to replace it with a government that serves the people”, Trump said. He also praised Ryan’s opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running “a very good campaign”.
Pence also said Trump values the sacrifices made by military families: “This man has a heart for our soldiers”.
Mr Trump’s refusal to provide an endorsement seemed to indicate a sense of retaliation against Mr Ryan, who hesitated to back the NY businessman prior to his receiving the Republican nomination.
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The billionaire tycoon had caused a rift earlier this week by saying that he was not ready to endorse Mr Ryan.
