Topline
Former President Donald Trump on Friday slammed former House Speaker Paul Ryan for a speech Ryan gave that offered mild and indirect criticism of Trump’s grasp on the Republican Party.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Accompanied by Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L), U.S. ... [+]
Key Facts
Trump put out two statements dubbing Ryan a “RINO” – a “Republican In Name Only” – mocking his failed 2012 vice presidential bid and claiming Fox News viewers are “fleeing” the network because Ryan is on the board of Fox Corp.
Trump dinged Ryan’s effort to remain influential in the GOP, arguing he was “weak and ineffective” as speaker and has “no clue as to what needs to be done for our country.”
The comments come the day after Ryan, in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, said conservatives are “not going anywhere” if they depend “on the populist appeal of one personality” or “second-rate imitations,” a thinly veiled swipe at Trump.
But Ryan, who worked with Trump for two years – though often begrudgingly – only mentioned the ex-president by name twice in the speech, both times to praise him.
Trump, Ryan said, ushered in “historic reforms” and a “triumph of practical conservative policy” during his presidency, and “brought many new voters” into the GOP.
Key Background
The relationship between Trump and Ryan has oscillated between animosity and unsteady detente. Ryan endorsed Trump in June 2016 but Trump refused to endorse Ryan for reelection in turn. Ryan then broke with Trump that October over the Access Hollywood tape, but congratulated him on his victory the following month. Trump and Ryan worked together on Obamacare repeal, tax cuts and other key GOP legislation between 2017 and 2019. Ryan never endorsed Trump in 2020.
Crucial Quote
“I was in the Great State of Wisconsin when they booed him off the podium—I literally had to come to his rescue,” Trump said of Ryan – a reference to a 2016 Trump rally in Ryan’s hometown of Janesville.
Big Number
53%. That’s the share of Republicans that view Trump as the “true” president in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday despite President Joe Biden’s victory – underscoring Trump’s grasp on the GOP.
