Paul Ryan already voted for Donald Trump
House Speaker Paul Ryan revealed Tuesday that he has already voted for Donald Trump despite their long, highly publicized rivalry.
Ryan hesitantly endorsed the Republican nominee in June but has refused to campaign for him against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
The two GOP leaders have had a tense and awkward relationship since the summer. Ryan has denounced the mogul’s attacks against a U.S. judge of Mexican heritage, his criticism of a Muslim family of a slain U.S. soldier and his lewd remarks in a leaked “Access Hollywood” tape.
But during an appearance on “Fox and Friends” Tuesday morning, the Wisconsin Republican confirmed that he cast his ballot for Trump to become the next commander in chief.
“I stand where I’ve stood all fall and all summer,” Ryan said. “In fact, I already voted here in Janesville [Wis.] for our nominee last week in early voting. We need to support our entire Republican ticket.”
According to Ryan, Clinton’s candidacy has created a sense of déjà vu. He cited the 1990s, when her husband, then-President Bill Clinton, saw his administration hit by multiple scandals. The FBI revealed last week that it was reviewing new emails related to its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private server.
“The point I keep trying to make to younger voters who didn’t live through the 1990s: This is what life with the Clintons looks like,” Ryan continued. “It’s always a scandal, one after another.”
Ryan accused the Clintons of working to help themselves and operating beyond the rules that apply to other people. He also said if Republicans don’t turn out to vote, then the “worst of all possible things” could happen: Clinton would enter the Oval Office with a Democratic Congress.
When asked if he was encouraging Republicans, Democrats and independents to vote for Trump to prevent the situation he just described, Ryan said he supported the entire Republican ticket.
“My focus personally right now is saving our House majority,” he continued. “I’m going to Indiana, Michigan, New York and Virginia today to fight for House Republicans to make sure we keep this majority. But we’ve got to win the tables.”
Ryan, the nation’s highest elected Republican official, did not immediately endorse Trump when he became the party’s presumptive nominee. For months, he criticized the real estate magnate’s comments.
After the recently unearthed 2005 “Access Hollywood” video showed Trump bragging about how his celebrity status allows him to grope women, Ryan said he would not defend the businessman. He told his caucus that he would focus on protecting Republican control of Congress — a message he stuck with on Tuesday.
