House Speaker Paul Ryan Urges GOP Unity Behind Donald Trump
— -- House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, reaffirmed his support for Donald Trump in a closed-door meeting with House Republicans this morning, discussing his endorsement and comfort with Trump as the GOP nominee, according to officials who attended the meeting.
“Speaker Ryan reconfirmed the detailed discussions that he's had with Mr. Trump, and he reconfirmed that he as Speaker ... remains comfortable with Mr. Trump as our nominee,” Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York, told reporters, an account seconded by other members.
On Tuesday, Ryan slammed Trump's comments about federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Trump has repeatedly questioned the impartiality of the Indiana-born judge, whose parents immigrated from Mexico, in the Trump University lawsuit case he is presiding over.
A senior Ryan aide said the Speaker discussed “the thinking behind his endorsement and how to move forward.”
“He reiterated that he had confidence that Trump would support the House GOP agenda after having conversations with him, and that he would continue to speak out when he believes it's necessary,” the aide said in a statement.
Not every member was as eager as Collins to talk about Trump.
Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, who represents a Colorado swing district that Democrats hope to win in November, rushed through a scrum of reporters when asked about Trump’s comments.
“I thought they were inappropriate,” Coffman said, adding that he hasn’t ruled out voting for Trump.
He said any effort to wrest the nomination from Trump by the Republican National Committee's Rules Committee -- as conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt has suggested -- would be futile.
“It’s too late,” Coffman said.
Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee -- an influential caucus that represents the majority of House Republicans -- repeatedly ripped Trump’s comments, and said he doesn’t endorse Trump.
“I will vote for him but in terms of getting my endorsement? I don’t endorse people who bash judges,” he said.
“What’s the difference?” a reporter asked.
Flores didn’t directly answer.
“It’s stupid to be in front of a courthouse and bash the judge hearing your case,” Flores said. “If he wants to win the White House, he needs to focus on the issues that the American people care about. And they don't really appreciate him calling out the ethnic heritage of the judge.”
