Straining to mend their party after months of chaos, US presidential candidate Donald Trump and US House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan declared themselves “totally committed” to working together after a fence-mending personal meeting on Thursday. Ryan praised Trump as “very warm and genuine,” and suggested that after initial hesitance he might well end up endorsing the Republican candidate for president.
“We will have policy disputes. There is no two ways about that. The question is, can we unify on the common core principles that make our party?” Ryan said. “And I’m very encouraged that the answer to that question is yes.”
Trump, who used the day to launch a robust charm offensive with members of US Congress, broadcast his own enthusiasm, on Twitter and on TV.
“I really think we had a great meeting today, and I think we agree on a lot of things and it’ll be a little process but it’ll come along. I’m pretty sure,” he said in an interview recorded for Fox News Channel’s Hannity.
The surprisingly fervent show of unity capped a remarkable week that began with Ryan, the Republican’s top elected office-holder and its 2012 vice presidential nominee, turning his back on his party’s presumptive presidential nominee just days after Trump had effectively clinched the nomination.
Ryan said at the time he was not yet ready to back Trump, who had succeeded in insulting women, Latinos, disabled people and many conservatives in the course of a brutal primary season. He also has alarmed the Republican establishment with proposals including deporting millions of immigrants and barring Muslims from the US.
Yet in the days since, many Republican lawmakers — and voters — have made peace with the reality that Trump is their candidate and therefore their only hope of defeating likely Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton. Although some in the Republican Party fear Trump could spell election disaster and cost Republicans control of the Senate and seats in the House, recent polls have shown a closer race, helping their comfort level.
Ryan himself insisted from the beginning that his only goal was real party unity. His allies in the House of Representatives had predicted he would get behind Trump in the end, and on Thursday Ryan sounded like he was well on his way.
“We talked about what it takes to unify, where our differences were and how we can bridge these gaps going forward,” Ryan said, praising Trump’s “unparalleled” accomplishment in getting more votes already than any Republican presidential candidate in history — 10.9 million even before California and New Jersey vote next month.
The two discussed “core principles” including limited government, the US Constitution, separation of powers and pro-life philosophy, Ryan said.
Asked whether he would be endorsing Trump a week after his refusal to do so shocked the Republican Party, Ryan said: “Yeah, I think this is going in a positive direction. And I think this was a first, very encouraging meeting.”
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