In blow to GOP unity, Trump refuses to back Ryan, McCain

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Tuesday he was “not quite” ready to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan in his upcoming primary, a stunning rebuke to the party’s top elected official.

Trump claimed in the Post interview that Ryan had sought his endorsement, which he was only giving “very serious consideration”. John McCain, R-Ariz., in either of their re-election bids.

But first, they praised the Republican speaker’s “decency” and quoted the words Ryan said when he first took on the role of Speaker of the House: “Wherever you come from, whatever you believe, we are all in the same boat”.

Ryan eventually endorsed Trump despite his misgivings. “Just want to make America great again”. The couple appeared at the Democratic National Convention, where Khizr Khan spoke emotionally against Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the country. It noted the long relationship between the veteran politicians and said they “discussed many issues facing the United States and the need for strong American leadership to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and ISIS”.

Though McCain said he still supported Trump, he said the fact that the businessman was the nominee is “not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us”.

McCain is a locked in a three-way race ahead of an August 30 primary in Arizona.

“We need loyal people in this country”.

Pence started Thursday with a rally in North Carolina, where an 11-year old boy who identified himself as Matthew said Pence had been “softening up on Mr. Trump’s policies and words” and questioned whether that would be his role in the administration.

Mike Pence tried Thursday to smooth over turmoil stirred by Donald Trump’s refusal to endorse some prominent Republicans, issuing a blanket endorsement of all GOP congressional incumbents seeking re-election.

Trump, meanwhile, wrote on Twitter that day: “Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over TV doing the same…”

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.

“I talked to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship”.

One Republican congressman predicted that Trump’s criticisms would backfire and harm the nominee rather than Ryan, given the speaker’s support among House Republicans, many of whom are lukewarm about backing the controversial real estate mogul.