CBS News Senior Political Editor Steve Chaggaris contributed to this story
Donald Trump Endorses Ryan, McCain Before Primary Races
After days of Donald Trump's public hesitation in backing House Speaker Paul Ryan during his Wisconsin primary race, the Republican presidential nominee to endorsed Ryan Friday evening at a rally in Green Bay, CBS News reports. Fox News first reported the expected endorsement.
Trump also endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain, who he has also been at odds with.
Earlier this week, Trump tweeted out his thanks for Paul Nehlen, Rep. Ryan's Republican primary challenger, who defended Trump on the lingering controversy regarding his attacks against the Gold Star Khan family.
Ryan, for his part, has been critical of Trump's feud with the Khans, whose Army captain son died fighting in the Iraq war in 2004. He called Trump's remarks "beyond the pale" in a radio interview with WTAQ but did not withdraw his endorsement of the GOP nominee. Ryan also opposes Trump's policy proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.
On Tuesday, Trump declared outright that he wasn't ready endorse to the House speaker and even seemed to echo Ryan's own words when the House speaker held back his own endorsement of Trump.
"I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump told the Washington Post in an interview Tuesday. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet."
Ryan, back in May, had told CNN that he was "not there yet" when it came to supporting Trump. A few weeks later in June the House speaker gave a lukewarm endorsement to the GOP candidate saying he would "be voting for him this fall" despite their "differences."
Ryan faces off against Republican Paul Nehlen in his primary Tuesday.
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