Speaker of the House Joins Growing List of Top Republicans Refusing to Support GOP Presumptive Nominee
What does it say about the man who will soon officially become the Republican Party’s nominee for president when the nation’s highest-ranking elected Republican – the man who becomes president should the president and vice president become unable to carry out their duties, – refuses to endorse him?
Telling CNN’s Jake Tapper Thursday afternoon, “I’m just not ready” to endorse Donald Trump, GOP Speaker of the House Paul Ryan did just that.
It’s a huge slap in the face for the person who is now the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
Rep. Ryan said that while the GOP doesn’t always nominate a person like Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan every four years, “we hope that our nominee aspires to be Lincoln-esque. That that person advances the principles of our party.”
“I’m just not there right now,” Ryan said. “I hope to support our nominee” at some point.
In the past 24 hours, Mitt Romney, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and other top-level Republicans have refused to endorse Trump, saying they will not attend the GOP convention.
UPDATE: 5:55 PM EDT –
Trump responds:
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