Paul Ryan Rebukes Donald Trump Over David Duke Endorsement

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday that the Republican presidential nominee must reject any group “built on bigotry”, an admonishment aimed at Donald Trump after the front-runner failed to disavow a white supremacist group in an interview.

The House GOP leader says “there can be no evasion”, but in the face of evasion, Ryan nevertheless intends to support his party’s nominee – even if it’s Trump, the candidate engaged in the precise behavior the Speaker says he finds offensive. They must reject any group or any cause that is built on bigotry. “This party does not prey on people’s prejudice. We appeal to their highest ideals”, Ryan said.

Ryan has repeatedly refused to comment on the presidential race, but he did speak out in December in opposition to Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from traveling to the United States, saying it was “not what this party stands for and… not what this country stands for”.

Never mentioning Trump’s name, Ryan and McConnell were clearly referring to the billionaire businessman’s appearance Sunday on CNN when he declined to disavow the support of Duke and other white supremacists. Trump later said he had not heard the questions well because of a bad earpiece.

This is the second time Ryan has called out Trump.

“We are the party of Lincoln”, Ryan added. But I think anyone who comes out of that kind of process as nominee is pretty close to “can’t win.’ There’s just too much electoral blood on the floor, too many people who feel like they were robbed, too much inherent and lasting controversy etc. Not “can’t”.

At the same time, Ryan reiterated that he will support the eventual GOP presidential nominee.

Asked about the prospect of supporting Trump if he emerged as the party’s nominee, Ryan said, “My plan is to support the nominee”. “I hope this is the last time I need to speak out on this race”. The campaign denied any role in their ouster from the event.

Many Republicans on both sides of the Capitol are doing a similarly delicate dance, trying to fend off the taint of Trump’s more controversial statements while not launching a full-out assault on the current Republican front-runner.

The Wisconsin Republican said the narrative has been focused on white supremacist groups instead of candidate policies in the days leading up to 11 states voting on a nominee.

Republicans are defending their congressional majorities in the November elections.