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Paul Ryan Still Won’t Endorse Donald Trump, Says He’s ‘Just Not Ready’

Paul Ryan and Donald Trump
Ryan and TrumpChip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Paul Ryan’s just not that into Donald Trump. The House Speaker said in an interview with CNN on Thursday, May 5, that he’s “just not ready” to put his support behind the controversial presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

“I’m just not ready to do that at this point,” he told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “I’m not there right now. I hope to, though, and I want to, but I think what is required is that we unify this party.”

Ryan’s refusal to publicly support Trump, 69, is due in large part to what he feels is a stain on the legacy of the Republican party.

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“This is the party of Lincoln, of Reagan, of Jack Kemp, and we don’t always nominate a Lincoln and a Reagan every four years, but we hope that our nominee aspires to be Lincoln- and Reagan-esque, that that person advances the principles of our party and appeals to a wide vast majority of Americans,” he said.

Ryan is the highest-ranking Republican to openly say he may not support the business mogul and, according to the Washington Post, his decision to do so stemmed from Ted Cruz’s and John Kasich’s announcements that they were dropping out of the race. (Former Texas Governor Rick Perry told CNN Thursday that he will be throwing his support behind Trump.)

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“For us to be a successful party, to climb that final hill and win the presidency, we will need a standard-bearer that can unify all Republicans, all conservatives, all wings of our party, and then go to the country with an appealing agenda that can be appealing to independents and disaffected Democrats,” he continued. “And we have work to do on this front, and I think our nominee has to lead in that effort.”

Trump responded to Ryan’s declaration on Thursday, issuing a statement on his website.

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“I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan’s agenda,” the statement reads. “Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people. They have been treated so badly for so long that it is about time for politicians to put them first!”

Earlier in the day on Thursday, the former Apprentice star took to social media to wish his followers a happy Cinco de Mayo in an off-color post.

“Happy #CincoDeMayo!” he captioned a photo of himself about to dig into a lunchtime treat. “The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!”

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