Ryan: Trump ‘very apologetic’ after plugging critical Fox show

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that President Trump was “very apologetic” after promoting a Fox News host hours before she called for Ryan to step down as Speaker over the GOP healthcare bill failure.

Ryan told “CBS This Morning” that it was a coincidence that Trump sent a tweet encouraging his followers to watch Jeanine Pirro’s show on Saturday, which she opened by slamming the Speaker.

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“He actually was very apologetic about it, in that he said, ‘I had no idea that that’s what she was going to talk about … I thought she was going to talk about something else,’” Ryan said. “So really that was completely coincidental.”

Trump’s tweet recommending his followers watch “Justice with Judge Jeanine” on Saturday came hours before she opened her show by stating that Ryan has “got to go,” fueling speculation about GOP infighting.

Watch @JudgeJeanine on @FoxNews tonight at 9:00 P.M.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2017

“The American people won’t forget this, and neither should the president,” Pirro said after Republicans failed to shore up support for their bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare last week.

Ryan shook off the criticism as being part of the job. 

“This is one of those jobs where you take a bunch of slings and arrows. You just know that,” Ryan said.

The GOP leader maintained that despite their past differences he has a “very good” relationship with Trump and they are in constant communication.

“We talk frequently, actually,” Ryan said.