Ryan explains Trump deal: President didn’t want ‘food fight’

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that President Trump agreed to a stunning short-term deal with Democrats on Hurricane Harvey aid, the debt limit and government funding because he didn’t want a “food fight” and wanted to instead show bipartisanship.

When the moderator at a New York Times-hosted event asked Ryan how the deal came about and how he felt about it, the Speaker sighed and took a moment to gather his thoughts before explaining that he believes the president made the agreement with Democrats in order to avoid partisan fighting.

{mosads}Trump wanted a “bipartisan response and not a food fight” on the timing of the debt limit, Ryan said.

Ryan added that the president wanted a “bipartisan moment in response to these hurricanes.”

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas last month, killing dozens and leaving massive flooding in its wake. Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm raging through the Caribbean, is threatening South Florida.

Trump on Wednesday shocked Republicans by striking an agreement with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to link Harvey aid with three-month extensions of the debt limit and federal government funding.

Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had sought a longer extension of the debt limit, which is typically a tough vote for GOP lawmakers.

Shortly before Trump met with congressional leaders on Wednesday, Ryan criticized Democrats’ proposal for a three-month debt-limit suspension, saying it was “ridiculous.”

On Thursday, Ryan said that he thinks it would be better for credit markets to have longer-term debt-limit extensions.

He also expressed confidence that Trump would work well with Republicans in Congress on tax reform.

“On tax reform, he’s very, very, engaged,” the Speaker said.

–This report was updated at 10:24 a.m.