Donald Trump is refusing to endorse two prominent congressional Republicans in their upcoming primaries—even after both have endorsed him. According to an interview with Washington Post, the GOP nominee says he’s “not quite there yet” in endorsing House speaker and Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, who is receiving a primary challenge from a local businessman. Trump is also not endorsing John McCain, the Republican senator and 2008 presidential nominee.
Here’s more from the Post:
Ryan used very similar language back in May to Trump’s, when the 2012 vice-presidential nominee stated he was “not ready” and “not there right now” on endorsing Trump after the New York businessman had effectively clinched the nomination. Ryan endorsed Trump for president less than a month later, and has since criticized the GOP nominee for making a “textbook definition of a racist statement” and for Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban.
On Monday night, Trump sent a tweet thanking Ryan’s primary opponent:
Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016
McCain, meanwhile, has been critical of Trump since the real-estate mogul entered the presidential race last fall, most recently over Trump’s criticism of the parents of a fallen Muslim-American soldier—the parents had spoken out against his candidacy at the Democratic National Convention.
Update: A spokesman for Ryan’s reelection campaign, Zack Roday, responds with a statement: “Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless.”
