Less than 24 hours before meeting 69-year-old GOP presumptive nominee real estate tycoon Donald Trump, 46-year-old newly minted House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had a sudden change-of-heart about backing Trump for president. Ryan told CNN’s Jake Tapper May 6 that he wasn’t yet ready to support Trump, citing concerns about Trump’s views on the role of the president and limited government. Ryan’s been warned by House Republicans to back the GOP’s presumptive nominee. Plans to engage Trump in a discussion about the conservative movement have vanished. Ryan expressed concerns to Tapper over Trump’s views on the role of the president and limited government, something the GOP presumptive nominee has no intent of discussing. Like the other 18 GOP candidates vanquished by Trump in the primaries, Ryan found out quickly he was out-of-line with only one choice left to pull the House together to back Trump’s campaign.
Ryan finds himself in the hot seat over unprecedented reluctance for a House Speaker not to back his Party’s nominee. “What we are trying to do is to be as constructive as possible, to have a real unification,” said Ryan, backtracking off his insistence to Tapper that it’s Trump’s job to unify the Party. “After a tough primary, that’s going to take some effort. We are committed to putting that effort in,” said Ryan, revealing his inability to adjust to Trump’s victory. Ryan admitted to not adjusting to Trump’s rivals, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, dropping out May 3 after losing to Trump in a landslide in Indiana. Ryan heard from many GOP House members to back Trump or face an end to his job as House Speaker. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), rumored on Trump’s VP short-list, told Ryan to back Trump or face a job change.
Ryan’s public refusal to back Trump was intended for what’s left of the Tea Party and House Freedom Caucus, all part of the “Never Trump” movement led by former GOP candidates former Florida Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and 2012 GOP nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. “I want to be part of unifying process so that we are at full strength this fall, so that we can win this election. We cannot afford to lose this election to Hillary Clinton,” said Ryan, walking back his statement to Tapper that it was up to Trump to unify the Party. Now Ryan offers to do everything he can to defeat Hillary. Ryan’s real problems stems from not accepting that Trump’s the new face of the Republican Party. Ryan’s Tea Party and Freedom Caucus affiliation has fallen out-of-grace in GOP primaries, overwhelmingly backing Trump’s new GOP brand.
Speaking with the head of Trump’s VP search team for 16 minutes, former GOP candidate retired pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, Ryan knows what’s at stake in Thursday’s meeting. Ryan confused his role as House Speaker with speaking for the conservative movement. Conservative radio and TV icons Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have already jumped on the Trump bandwagon. Rush telegraphed to Ryan and other conservatives that the 2016 elections is not about Party ideology. “This is a big-tent party. There is plenty of room for different policy disputes in the party,” said Ryan, reminding himself it’s OK to back Trump. Trump expects Ryan’s unconditional support after winning nearly 11 million primary votes, closing in the 1,237 delegate magic number. Only two weeks ago GOP officials were making plans for a contested convention in Cleveland.
Ryan’s sudden about-face stems from overwhelming criticism for publicly expressing reservations about Trump. While some disgruntled former candidates refuse to back Trump, Ryan’s not in a position as House Speaker to boycott his Party’s nominee. Refusing to back Trump kicks sand into the face of GOP primary voters that back Trump in record numbers. “I think he [Trump] has to show what kind of president that he would be,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), warming to the idea of backing Trump. GOP’s vociferous “Stop Trump” movement brainwashed elected officials that Trump’s bad for the Republican Party. Beating Hillary Nov. 8 would be the best thing for the GOP and conservative movement, regardless of any substantive differences with Trump. Knowing Trump blew away the GOP field should reassure the Party he’s the right one to take on Hillary.
Getting the message that the House Speaker doesn’t speak for the Republican Party, Ryan looks to reverse gears before meeting with Trump and other Congressional officials tomorrow. Ryan’s realizing he stepped way out-of-line withholding his endorsement of the GOP’s presumptive nominee. Just as Ryan represents all 435 House members, Trump represents nearly 11 million voters in those same GOP congressional districts voting for him. Representing the full House, especially 257 Republicans, Ryan made a rookie mistake not giving Trump his 100% backing. It’s not Trump’s job to herd House members to back the GOP ticket: That’s the job of the House Speaker. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump told Fox News. “If we make a deal, that’ll be great. If we don’t, we’ll trudge forward like I’ve been doing,” cautiously optimistic that Ryan’s finally seen the light.
