Trump hits out at Ryan over surprise rebuff
Print Edition
DONALD Trump expressed surprise yesterday over House Speaker Paul Ryan’s rebuff of him as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
“He talks about unity but what is this about unity?” he said in a nationally broadcast interview. “With millions of people coming into the party, obviously I’m saying the right thing.”
Ryan’s declaration that he wasn’t yet ready to embrace Trump sent shockwaves through the very Republican establishment that the New York billionaire is asking for help as he transitions from the primary season to a general-election campaign, most likely against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I was really surprised by it,” Trump said in a phone-interview with Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends.” He added: “It’s not a good thing. It’s something the party should get solved quickly.”
Trump also took a swipe at Ryan’s own failed bid for the White House when Ryan ran as Mitt Romney’s No. 2 in 2012.
“That was a race that should have easily been won,” Trump said. “That was an easier race than we have this year.”
Trump says he will meet with Ryan next week, possibly as early as Wednesday. As for choosing a running mate, Trump would say only that the person will not be a Democrat. He had indicated earlier this week following his win in the Indiana primary that he would likely settle on a political person with Washington experience — someone who could help him get legislation through Congress.
“I’m going to pick a Republican and we’ll have a tremendous victory,” Trump said, noting he was particularly pleased to have the backing of former 2016 presidential campaign rival Rick Perry of Texas.
When asked about backing Trump, Ryan told CNN on Thursday: “I’m not there right now,” although he hoped to be eventually. “I think what is required is that we unify this party,” Ryan said.
Meanwhile, Trump’s advisers have begun conversations with the Republican National Committee on coordinating fundraising and tapping into the committee’s extensive voter data file and nationwide get-out-the-vote operation.
RNC officials have sent a draft of a joint fundraising proposal to the Trump campaign that details how they would divide donations between the campaign, the national committee, the national convention committee and several state parties. The agreement, standard practice in modern-day campaigns, is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
Trump has named a finance chairman, Steven Mnuchin, a private investor with ties to New York and Hollywood who has never led a major political fundraising team. Many major GOP donors have never heard of him — or even know how to pronounce his name (muh-NOO-chihn).
Like his new boss, Mnuchin has a record of giving both to Republicans and Democrats, including to Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential run.
Trump also received a cool reception from the 2012 GOP standard-bearer, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former President George W. Bush. Neither Bush nor his father, former President George H.W. Bush, have embraced Trump, and neither plans to attend the party convention in Cleveland in July.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
