U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan says he will continue to support Donald Trump despite the GOP presidential nominee’s statements earlier this week that he isn’t ready to endorse Ryan in his own primary election.
Ryan is facing a challenge in Aug. 9’s partisan primary from businessman Paul Nehlen, who is a vocal supporter of Trump.
Ryan said Thursday that he respects Republican primary voters’ choice of Trump and will stick to his endorsement of the party nominee. He added, however, that he will continue to speak up when he believes Trump isn’t accurately representing the values of the Republican Party.
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“I don’t like doing that. I really don’t want to do that. But I do feel a need to defend our principles if they’re being distorted,” Ryan said. “And that has happened from time to time. I hope it doesn’t continue to happen.”
Ryan said there is a “binary choice” between Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton this fall.
He also reiterated his beliefs that Trump will support the House GOP agenda and appoint a qualified, conservative judge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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