Paul Ryan says he’ll step down as GOP convention chair if Donald Trump asks

During a meeting Monday with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters in his hometown of Janesville, Wis., Ryan reportedly said he would do “whatever” Trump wants when it comes to convention planning since he is the de facto nominee.

“He’s the nominee. I’ll do whatever he wants with respect to the convention,” Ryan told the paper.

During an interview over the weekend, Trump said he would be “very quick” to remove Ryan as chairman of the convention in July should the Wisconsin Republican refuse to endorse him.

“I will give you a very solid answer, if that happens, about one minute after that happens, OK?” Trump told NBC News. “There’s no reason to give it right now, but I’ll be very quick with the answer.”

Journal-Sentinel columnist Christian Schneider tweeted after his meeting with Ryan on Monday that if it comes to that, the House Speaker will oblige.

Ryan also rejected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s recent claim that his refusal to endorse Trump is linked to future presidential ambitions.

“I would not have become Speaker of the House if I had 2020 aspirations,” he told the Journal-Sentinel. “I could have run in 2012 and 2016. The Speaker is not exactly a good stepping stone for president.”

“I think people who know me know that is not my aspiration,” he added.

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According to Schneider, Ryan also said he completely opposes efforts by party elders to put forth a conservative, third-party alternative to Trump. His comments come just minutes after Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol told CNN there’s a “50-50” chance he and his cohorts will convince someone to launch an independent bid.

A spokesperson for Ryan could not be reached for comment.