U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan met with presumed GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump Thursday on Capitol Hill. Afterward, the Janesville Republican called the conversation “very pleasant” and “encouraging” but added it was just the beginning of unifying the Republican party.
“It’s very important that we don’t fake unifying, we don’t pretend unification, that we truly and actually unify, so that we are full strength in the fall,” Ryan said.
Ryan said it was “no secret” that he and Trump have had their differences. Last week, Ryan, the Republican Party’s highest-ranking officeholder, announced publicly that he was unable to endorse Trump’s candidacy, “at this point.”
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
Back in Wisconsin, some voters in Ryan’s congressional district described his stance as “brave” and “smart.”
Republicans and Democrats alike mostly found no fault with Ryan’s decision to withhold support, saying he’s unlikely to face any consequences for his stance in his re-election bid. They also said it’s unlikely that Ryan will actually persuade the real estate mogul to tone down his provocative rhetoric or otherwise fall in line with the party.
Trump also met with other House and Senate leaders on Thursday, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has already endorsed Trump.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
