Trump: Ryan is ‘a good guy, actually’

Donald Trump on Thursday offered some kind words to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) after refusing to endorse him in his primary race earlier this week.

When some in the crowd in Portland, Maine, began to boo at the mention of Ryan’s name, Trump stopped them by saying, “Paul Ryan’s a good guy, actually.” 

{mosads}Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, endorsed Ryan for reelection on Thursday, leading to speculation about a rift between the two men. But Trump said Pence asked for his permission before backing Ryan.

“Mike called me and he said yesterday, ‘Would you mind if I endorsed? I won’t do that if it’s going to cause any complications or problems,’ ” Trump said of Pence.

“I said, ‘Mike, you like him? Yes, go ahead and do it, 100 percent.'” 

Trump’s decision not to endorse Ryan in an interview this week with The Washington Post prompted blowback from top Republicans, many of whom had already been rankled by Trump’s criticism of the family of a fallen Muslim American soldier. 

Pence came to Ryan’s defense, endorsing him on Wednesday.

It’s not the first time that Pence has issued a statement aiming to defuse a controversy prompted by Trump’s actions or comments, but Trump downplayed the idea that there’s a “fissure” between them. Stories suggesting such a break are “so dishonest,” Trump said.