House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow Republicans Monday that he would not campaign with Donald Trump, and would not defend him leading up to the Nov. 8 election.
He also told lawmakers to “do what’s best for you in your district” when it comes to supporting Trump, according to a source on the Monday morning conference call.
Ryan, however, has not officially withdrawn his support for Trump in the wake of a leaked tape in which Trump makes disparaging comments about women, though he condemned it and banned Trump from appearing at a Wisconsin political rally last weekend. A Ryan aide told the Washington Examiner Ryan’s position on Trump has not changed as of Monday.
“He will spend his entire energy making sure that Hillary Clinton does not get a blank check with a Democrat-controlled Congress,” said the source who was on the call. “He made clear to members that his decisions are being driven by what is best for his members, not himself. He is willing to endure political pressure to help protect our majority.”
The call was co-hosted by the head of the House campaign arm, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., to “touch base with members about the current landscape,” and provide a political update, the sources said.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign tweeted out in reaction, “Ryan is still endorsing Trump.”
Ryan is still endorsing Trump. https://t.co/L30EZvUbm0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 10, 2016
Those on the call said the discussion was very brief and included people speaking out in favor of Trump, mostly conservatives, and more moderate Republicans saying they could never support the party nominee.
“One member said Trump should have been forced out,” said another source who heard the call. “He said he’s preparing to live with a Hillary Clinton presidency and to try to work with her.”
But others said a Trump presidency would be better than a Clinton White House, and took a principled position that Republicans need to get behind Trump.
“Some members from swing districts said Hillary Clinton is so awful potentially as president that it would be a disaster,” said the second source said. “That, regardless of what the risk is to some House seats, the presidential race is so important for our future when you take into account the Supreme Court appointees, that nothing is more important to this race, even the possibility of jeopardizing our swing district seats.”
Ryan told lawmakers, “to make the best decision for your election situation.”
