Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Does Paul Ryan Share Trump's Vision of the Future of the GOP?

Does Paul Ryan Share Trump's Vision of the Future of the GOP?
@MeetThePress/Twitter

So many non-answers.

Retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed critics who say he enabled the Republican Party's total capitulation to President Donald Trump and his divisive approach to politics.


On Friday's Meet the Press, Ryan spoke with host Chuck Todd about Trump, Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and fired FBI Director James Comey's new book. His retirement imminent, Ryan's interview with Todd was an attempt to shape his legacy, which could forever be tarnished by his willingness to support Trump's agenda while excoriating him for racially insensitive comments Trump made during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"Enabling ― So, so what did we do?"

When asked if he and Trump shared the same vision for the future of the Republican party, Ryan replied, "you'd have to ask him that." And although they have some policy differences, Ryan said he and the president were "rolling in the same direction" on most major issues.

"Sure, no two people are going to agree on everything," Ryan said. "We have different styles. We have different ideas. But it's a big tent party. And we represent different corners of the tent."

"But Ryan rarely challenged the President on anything."

Todd then pressed Ryan on whether "Trumpism," rather than "Ryanism," had become the mainstay of the GOP, by quoting Wisconsin radio host Charlie Sykes.

"When people write the history of this era, it will be the triumph of Trumpism over Ryanism, and that's got to be a bitter pill to swallow."

The Speaker defended his positions, emphasizing that his main goal in coming to Washington in the first place was to update the tax code.

"No, I just don't see it like that," Ryan replied. "One of the first things I fought for when I first got here was tax reform... that is now done," he said.

He also spoke about his desire to reform entitlements and healthcare.

"The one thing that obviously I care deeply about is entitlement reform, in particular healthcare entitlement reform. I feel gratified that ever since I was budget chair, every term the House has passed a budget that has paid down the debt, but we have not gotten that through the Senate or the White House."

In reality, the federal deficit has increased, drastically, during Ryan's tenure as Speaker in the era of Trump. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is projected to add $1.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, and since Trump took office, the federal deficit has ballooned from $587 billion in President Obama's last year in office to $666 billion in Trump's first year. Additionally, the national debt has topped $21 trillion dollars, negating Trump's and Ryan's promises to rein in federal spending and reduce the nation's financial liabilities.

On the issue of whether or not Congress should pass a bill protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller from a potential Trump firing, Ryan indicated that he would not support it, because he does not see it as necessary.

He did, however, tell Todd that he does not believe Trump will try to fire Mueller, who appears to be closing in on the president after FBI agents raided the homes and office of Michael Cohen, Trump's long-time personal attorney and "fixer."

"I don't think he should be fired. I think he should be left to do his job," Ryan said of Mueller. "And I don't think they're really contemplating this."

Trump has publicly toyed with the idea of firing Mueller and is reportedly considering firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, to whom Mueller answers and who is currently the only person with the authority to fire the special counsel.


Todd also asked Ryan if Trump's attacks on law enforcement, as outlined in Comey's upcoming book A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, should be met with more resistance by members of Congress. He was also asked to respond to Trump's tweets calling Comey a "slimeball."

"Is James Comey a man of integrity?" Todd asked. Ryan's answer was elusive.

"As far as I know, I don't know him very well. Two or three briefings are about what I've had with James Comey."

Todd pressed Ryan further, asking, "would you take him at his word, would you trust his judgment?" Ryan again answered without really answering.

"I'm not going to try and help sell some books," Ryan said. "I've met him two or three times...I'm not trying to be evasive but what I don't want to do is join in some food fight, some book-selling food fight, I don't see any value in that."


More from News

Kid Rock
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Donning A Truly Over-The-Top Outfit For His White House Visit

Singer Kid Rock was slammed for wearing a loud patriotic costume inside the Oval Office as Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday against ticket scalping.

The rocker's outfit consisted of a red, white, and blue jacket emblazoned with two eagles facing each other above the American flag with the number 250, a nod to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, and white stars on his sleeves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Bill Cassidy
CNBC

MAGA Senator Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud With Epic Freudian Slip About Medicare

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy was widely mocked following his inconvenient slip of the tongue during a CNBC interview as he mused about finding ways to "cut" Medicare before quickly correcting himself.

The exchange occurred after host Rebecca Quick pressed Louisiana Republican and former physician Bill Cassidy on how his party intended to fund the “trillion-dollar tax cuts” sought by President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tim Sheehy
CNN

GOP Senator Gets Blunt Reality Check After Comparing Trump Tariff 'Pain' To Home Renovation

Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy was criticized after he tried to compare the "short-term pain" of President Donald Trump's tariffs to home renovation, a claim so ridiculous that CNN's Kaitlan Collins quickly pushed back on the analogy.

Trump has repeatedly referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” pledging to impose tariffs—taxes on imports—to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods. He has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal,” aiming to match the duties other nations place on American exports.

Keep ReadingShow less
Susan Crawford; Elon Musk
Scott Olson/Getty Images (left and right)

Liberal Wisconsin Judge Calls Out Elon Musk In Victory Speech—And It's Everything

Liberal judge Susan Crawford called out billionaire Elon Musk in her victory speech after winning a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, basking in successfully beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel and ensuring that the nonpartisan court’s narrow 4-3 liberal majority remains intact despite Musk's efforts to sway the race.

Musk fueled the high-stakes race, having poured more than $20 million into supporting Schimel, according to state campaign records. That includes $3 million to the state Republican Party—$2 million of which was donated just last week. Due to state election laws, large contributions must be funneled through political parties before reaching candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Worst 'Bonus' They've Ever Gotten At Work

Most of us have worked at one problematic workplace, with reasons ranging from toxic coworkers to terrible bosses to unlivable pay. Sometimes, it feels like a joke that the employees are even being paid at all!

But the biggest joke of all might be the end-of-year bonus, or lack thereof. They're at times so laughable, they take the cake for horrible work conditions, or are quite literally, a slice of cake.

Keep ReadingShow less