Topline

Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will call on his party to stay true to its principles and not blindly follow the leadership of one man, former President Donald Trump, during a speech Thursday night, joining a small chorus of prominent Republicans to urge a reckoning within the party, months after Trump left the White House. 

Key Facts

“If the conservative cause depends on the populist appeal of one personality, or on second-rate imitations, then we’re not going anywhere,” Ryan is expected to say during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, according to multiple outlets that have seen excerpts of the address.

Republicans “win majorities by directing our loyalty and respect to voters, and by staying faithful to the conservative principles that unite us,” Ryan, who served as speaker from 2015-2019 under former President Barack Obama and Trump, will add.

Ryan will also knock President Joe Biden during the speech, arguing America wanted a “nice guy who would move to the center and depolarize our politics” but instead got “a nice guy pursuing an agenda more leftist than any president in my lifetime.”

Though critical at times, progressives have embraced Biden since he joined the White House, lauding the $1.9 trillion stimulus package he pushed through Congress, as well as his infrastructure, childcare and education proposals.

The former speaker’s comments come as a small group of House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January, including Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), continues a crusade to move the party past the former president.

Crucial Quote

“As the left gets more ‘woke,’ the rest of America is getting weary,” Ryan will say. “It’s exhausting.  And we conservatives have to be careful not to get caught up in every little cultural battle.” 

Key Background

Ryan and Trump enjoyed a tumultuous relationship while both were in office and the former speaker reportedly left office because he couldn’t stand to undergo another two years of Trump. After Ryan retired, the two bashed each other publicly, with Ryan claiming Trump “didn’t know anything about government” and Trump calling the former speaker’s record of achievement “atrocious.” 

Chief Critic

“Paul Ryan, the failed V.P. candidate & former Speaker of the House, whose record of achievement was atrocious (except during my first two years as President), ultimately became a long running lame duck failure, leaving his Party in the lurch both as a fundraiser & leader,” Trump wrote on Twitter in 2019.

What To Watch For 

In April, Ryan said debates about the party’s loyalty to Trump will “fade” over time. “I think circumstances, ideas and new candidates are going to ... overshadow that whole conversation,” Ryan told the Associated Press. Ryan also downplayed the possibility of running for president in 2024, saying he’s “content” with where he is.

Further Reading

Liz Cheney Ousted As GOP Conference Chair In Overwhelming Voice Vote (Forbes)