Speaker of the House Paul Ryan sat with Judy Woodruff on PBS News Hour for a wide-ranging interview Wednesday evening that touched on various points of disagreement between the Wisconsin Republican and President Donald Trump.
On the subject of Russia and Trump’s recent interview with Bill O’Reilly where Trump suggested that the United States wasn’t “so innocent” compared with Vladimir Putin’s regime, Ryan was unequivocal in rejecting any “moral equivalency” between the two countries. He also reiterated his strong support for continued sanctions against Russia and said he would support legislation to block the Trump Administration from easing them.
REP. PAUL RYAN: Yes, I just don’t see it that way. I just see it differently.I think, first of all, I don’t subscribe to relativism, whether it’s in political philosophy, foreign policy or in life. So, I don’t think there is a moral equivalency here at all. So, I just disagree with any kind of notion of a moral equivalency.There’s a gaping difference between the United States of America and Putin’s Russia. That’s point number one.Point number two, I think what the president is trying to do is not unlike what the past two presidents did with Russia. I just don’t think it’s going to work. Remember when George W. Bush said I could see through his soul or something like that?JUDY WOODRUFF: Trying to get close to Russia.REP. PAUL RYAN: Yes, he was trying to get close to Russia and trying to get close to Putin. George Bush did that. I don’t think it worked.Remember Hillary Clinton with the reset button on behalf of Barack Obama, trying to get close to Russia, trying to smooth things out with Russia? New administrations do this. Now, it’s logical as to why they want to do this.There are instances in which our interests align with Russia and there are those where they don’t. And so the question is, can we help steer Russia to being something that doesn’t conflict with our interests and something that — and a country that aligns with our interests?I don’t personally — I’m not going to hold my breath on that.JUDY WOODRUFF: So, if this president were to relax sanctions against Russia…REP. PAUL RYAN: Yes, I don’t support that.JUDY WOODRUFF: … would you support legislation to prevent it?REP. PAUL RYAN: Yes, no, I think the sanctions were overdue. I think President Obama should have done them a year ago.JUDY WOODRUFF: So, you would support legislation to keep them strong?REP. PAUL RYAN: Yes, I do support — yes, I have long supported sanctions on Russia. Transcript via Real Clear Politics.
