Paul Ryan defends Donald Trump endorsement

WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., waded into the deep end yesterday, abandoning his island as the last Republican congressional leader to endorse Donald Trump for president.

“A [Hillary] Clinton White House would mean four more years of liberal cronyism and a government more out for itself than the people it serves. Quite simply, she represents all that our agenda aims to fix,” Ryan wrote in an op-ed for his hometown newspaper. “It’s not just a choice of two people, but of two visions for America. And House Republicans are helping shape that Republican vision by offering a bold policy agenda, by offering a better way ahead. Donald Trump can help us make it a reality.”

When Trump became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on May 4, many conservatives in Congress conceded to support him. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus tweeted his support for Trump the night the billionaire businessman won Indiana’s primary and urged Republicans to unite to take down Trump’s likely opponent, Hillary Clinton.

But Ryan surprised many by saying he was “not yet ready” to give Trump a thumbs up. And while Ryan still disagrees with Trump on many issues, the nation’s highest-ranking Republican said he will vote for the nominee in November because they can work together to further conservative principles.

“It’s no secret that he and I have our differences,” Ryan said. “I won’t pretend otherwise. And when I feel the need to, I’ll continue to speak my mind. But the reality is, on the issues that make up our agenda, we have more common ground than disagreement.”

After the newspaper published his endorsement, Ryan told the Associated Press he took longer than others to support Trump because he didn’t feel comfortable with him yet. Ryan said he never met Trump before he became the party’s presumptive nominee and he wanted to first discuss policy and principles with him before pledging support.

But some are not sold on Ryan’s vetting process and say he sold out amid peer pressure.

Rory Cooper of the Never Trump super PAC noted Ryan’s words last month, when he said if Trump is going to be the standard bearer for Republicans he must bear their standards: “I just don’t see how in the past three weeks that test has been met,” Cooper tweeted.

David French, whom some conservatives are urging to run against Trump as an independent, had more harsh words for the speaker.

“The leaders of the party that ended slavery now endorse a man who bullies women, lies habitually, and incites violence. My heart breaks,” French tweeted last night.

Ryan defended his endorsement as soon as he granted it. He told the Associated Press his support has caveats. The House speaker will not promise to help Trump on the campaign trail and will not publicly endorse any of his controversial policies, such as building a wall at the southern U.S. border or enacting a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country. Ryan also said he hopes Trump’s tone will improve going forward and that he will run a campaign “we can all be proud of.”

Former House Speaker and one-time Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich applauded Ryan’s approach to Trump. Ryan showed leadership by taking his time to work through issues with Trump before giving him the stamp of approval, Gingrich tweeted yesterday.

But others saw the move as a sign of weakness.

“On Thursday Mr. Ryan capitulated to ugliness,” The Washington Post editorial board wrote. “It was a sad day for the speaker, for his party, and for all Americans who hoped that some Republican leaders would have the fortitude to put principle over partisanship, job security, or the forlorn fantasy that Mr. Trump will advance a traditional GOP agenda.”

Trump’s vision for America is antithetical to the principles Ryan says guide him, the Post’s editors concluded.

In the weekly Republican address, released a day early this morning on Ryan’s YouTube channel, the speaker said his party is ready to introduce a new conservative agenda next week entitled “A Better Way.” He promised to provide plans to fight poverty, create jobs, and keep Americans safe. Ryan acknowledged many angry voices, but said it’s time to channel that anger into action.

“Let’s face it. People know what Republicans are against,” he said. “Now, we’re going to give you a plan that shows you what we are for.”