House Speaker Paul Ryan said Friday that the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union would have no effect on the bilateral relationship.
“I respect the decision made by the people of the United Kingdom. The UK is an indispensable ally of the United States, and that special relationship is unaffected by this vote,” the Wisconsin Republican said in a statement Friday.
By a close 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent vote, the U.K. voted to leave the EU.
On Thursday, Ryan criticized President Obama for taking a position on the vote and trying to convince people in the U.K. to vote to stay.
“I’m going to do exactly what the president did not do, and not weigh in on this,” Ryan told reporters on Thursday. “I’m not fearful, I’m not going to weigh in on it, and they are an indispensable ally of ours regardless of what the outcome of this vote is.”
Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after the vote results came in.
