House Speaker Paul Ryan wants Donald Trump to agree to broad principles that Ryan believes are the foundation of the Republican Party when the two meet later this week, according to a preview of the meeting from longtime Ryan friend and mentor Bill Bennett.
In a new podcast launching this week, Bennett, the former education secretary and radio host, did not say how he got the information but offered what he called “a few insights that I believe I can say with authority” about Ryan’s thinking going into the Trump meeting.
“What’s to be accomplished is, we hope, a meeting of the minds, that they come together on an agreement of some things,” Bennett said in the podcast, which is set for release Tuesday morning. “It’s not at the level of specific policy. It’s not about immigration, it’s not about trade, it’s not about this tax proposal or that tax proposal. It’s at a level of principle. Paul Ryan believes … there are certain principles that define the Republican Party. First, principles; is there agreement there, can there be, will there be agreement there?”
Bennett discussed which principles Ryan believes are critical to the Trump meeting. “We’re talking about Article One,” Bennett said. “We’re talking about pro-life. We’re talking about limited government. We’re talking about … free enterprise, limited government, individual liberty, national defense, traditional values. There’s got to be agreement on the broad outlines there. If there is, there can be disagreement below that.”
At another point in the podcast, Bennett noted the challenge Ryan faces keeping his Republican conference together in the House. The Trump meeting is part of that, Bennett said, as Ryan tries to unite GOP members in a fractious political season. “Can he meet with Trump and can the two of them have agreement on Article One, on pro-life, on the Constitution, on the Supreme Court?” Bennett said.
The bottom line, Bennett added, is that Ryan is looking for Trump’s commitment to fundamental values, not to particular policies. “I think Ryan is looking for assurances on certain core issues,” Bennett said. “And I think there can be disagreements on policy issues, even ones near and dear to the heart of Paul Ryan, like trade, like immigration, like entitlement reform.”
Finally, Bennett said Ryan has to believe he can trust Trump to keep commitments. “There’s got to be some candor in this meeting,” Bennett said. “There can’t be a lot of sandbagging, can’t be saying one thing and then doing another. [Ryan] has got to keep his troops in line, he’s got to get a good handshake and a look in the eye from Trump, and try to keep the House and the party together as you go into Cleveland.”
