Ryan stands by his Trump endorsement — for now

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan outlined what he suggested is an optimistic, policy-driven platform for the Republican Party at an exclusive retreat for conservative donors Monday, showcasing a competing vision to the darker campaign of Donald Trump.

Ryan endorsed Trump’s presidential bid several weeks after he became the presumptive Republican nominee, but has not hesitated to criticize Trump and express his deep disapproval with some of Trump’s more controversial words and proposals.

“I’ve never been there with John McCain because I’ve always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets”, Trump said.

“Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement”, Ryan campaign spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement, adding the campaign was “confident” Ryan would win his primary.

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”.

Trump thanked Ryan’s Republican Primary challenger Paul Nehlen on Twitter. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, has enthusiastically endorsed Ryan.

“We need loyal people in this country”.

“I don’t doubt that they were outraged about some of the statements that Mr. Trump and his supporters made about the Khan family”, Obama said at a news conference.

Ryan reiterated Sunday that he rejects Trump’s call for a temporary ban on Muslim travel to the US after Trump took heat for criticizing the parents of Humayun Khan, a US Army captain who died in the Iraq War.

“I call it like I see it and I’m always going to stand up for our military families and what’s best for the people of New Hampshire”, she tweeted after Trump’s remarks were published.

Ayotte, facing a tough re-election battle in New Hampshire, also has spoken out harshly against Trump, saying she was “appalled” by his attacks on the Khans whose son was killed in Iraq.

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.

Pence and McCain met for 25 minutes Tuesday evening, Pence’s press secretary, Marc Lotter, said in a statement.

“He’s going to support Paul Ryan, he does support Paul Ryan, he said he’s going to work with Paul Ryan”. Khizr Khan criticized Trump’s position on Muslims and asked whether the real estate mogul had read the Constitution.