Speaker Paul Ryan is widely regarded as a thought leader in his party and in the conservative movement, generally. He speaks often of principles, and he seems to mean it. He has yet to back Trump.
In a joint statement after their meeting at the Republican National Committee headquarters, the two stressed that the party must unite to defeat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton this fall.
Sarah Palin is backing the House speaker's GOP primary challenger after Ryan declined to endorse Donald Trump. But primary upsets remain rare and hard to orchestrate.
Don't add House Speaker Paul Ryan to the list of Republicans who are backing de facto GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. "I think he has to do more to unify this party," Ryan said.
Rumors have swirled that Republican delegates could nominate Ryan in a multi-ballot convention. Ryan put those rumors to rest, definitively ruling himself out.
"It's one of the few regrets of my presidency," Obama said in a moment of self-critique, "that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better."
Paul Ryan became the reluctant speaker of the House after John Boehner resigned. Ryan has the unenviable task of trying to unify a fractious party. He sat down with reporters, including NPR.
Paul Ryan says freedom of religion is a fundamental, constitutional principle. Ryan also speaks up for Muslims, "the vast, vast, vast, vast majority of whom are peaceful," he says.
By voluntarily renouncing his office, Boehner freed himself to do what had to be done. To paraphrase Shakespeare's epitaph for another warrior, nothing in his career became him like the leaving it.
The Wisconsin Republican reluctantly said he would run for speaker, but only if the rebellious factions of the House GOP Conference will unite behind him.
Ryan, who has been pressured to run for the speakership by several prominent GOP colleagues, says that if the divided party unites behind him, he will run for House speaker.
Congressman Paul Ryan remains quiet on whether he'll enter the speaker's race to succeed John Boehner, but a growing number of lawmakers say they're interested in the job.
There are rumblings that conservatives want John Boehner ousted as House speaker for what they see as a lack of fight. But GOP leaders look ready to turn the tables on the insurgents.
The Republican House Ways and Means chairman explains to Steve Inskeep why he supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, which is now working its way — in fits and starts — through Congress.
