Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump fell short of winning an endorsement from House Speaker Paul Ryan Thursday but both men said they had taken a "positive step" toward unifying the party behind the billionaire's remarkable White House run.
Trump, facing a critical early test of his general election candidacy, met with Ryan to air their differences, and with other Republican leaders.
Despite several Republicans acknowledging deep fissures within the party about a standardbearer whose policies often stray from conservative orthodoxy, Trump emerged from the meetings sounding optimistic about a rapprochement.
"Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well!" he said on Twitter.
In a joint statement afterward, Trump and Ryan called their meeting a "positive step toward unification" and stressed the party's paramount goal is to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.
But Ryan, who declared last week that he was "not ready" to support Trump as party flagbearer, withheld his endorsement.
"I think this is going in a positive direction and I think this is a first very encouraging meeting," Ryan told reporters. "But again, in 45 minutes you don't litigate all of the processes and all the issues and the principles that we are talking about."
Despite outstanding differences, Trump appeared to strike a delicate peace with the party establishment that he was so quick to attack on the campaign trail.
"While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground," the pair said in their statement.
"We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal."
The real estate mogul, who has never run for elective office before, also met with top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has offered his support of Trump.
- 'Clear the air' -
But concerns about the tone and substance of Trump's campaign have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to win the presidency and hold their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Charlie Dent, a centrist House Republican who did not attend Thursday's meetings, told reporters Trump's Washington pilgrimage was "an opportunity to clear the air."
Trump "has to convince many Americans, including myself, that he's ready to lead this great nation," he said. "At this point I haven't been persuaded, but I'm ready to listen."
Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, has pledged to overhaul the party's image and reach out to minority groups.
But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
In the latest sign he is tacking toward the center, Trump appeared to walk back his call for a Muslim ban, telling Fox News Radio Wednesday that it was "just a suggestion."
Ryan said he discussed "core" conservative principles with Trump, including constitutional and right-to-life issues and the separation of powers within the US government.
But he acknowledged that he did not know Trump well enough yet.
"Going forward we're going to go a little deeper into the policy weeds to make sure that we have a better understanding of one another," he said.
Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, who also met with Trump, argued that Ryan was startled at how Trump suddenly prevailed last week, and that the speaker wanted to "kick the tires a little longer" before offering an endorsement.
Outside RNC headquarters about a dozen protesters chanted "Undocumented! Unafraid!" in defiance of Trump's vow to deport millions of illegal immigrants if elected.
Trump ignored the protesters and entered the building through a back door.
While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there are signs of a growing move to unite behind him.
The chairmen of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon Wednesday, saying in a statement released by Trump that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee" and maintain GOP majorities in Congress.
- In a pickle -
Democrats were quick to offer their analysis, with leaders in the party insisting their Republican counterparts enabled Trump's rise with anti-immigrant, anti-woman and obstructionist policies.
"The fact is, Senate Republicans have been governing from the Trump textbook for years," Senator Chuck Schumer, the likely Senate minority leader next year, told reporters, adding that Republican lawmakers are in a quandary over 2016.
"They embrace him, they have trouble. They run away from him, they have trouble," Schumer said. "They're in a huge pickle."
Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they distance themselves from The Donald.
But even Graham appeared to be softening, saying he had a "good 15-minute discussion" by phone with Trump Wednesday about national security, part of Trump's outreach to party factions.
"This is a wise move on his part," Graham said.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump fell short of winning an endorsement from House Speaker Paul Ryan Thursday but both men said they had taken a “positive step” toward unifying the party behind the billionaire’s remarkable White House run.
Trump, facing a critical early test of his general election candidacy, met with Ryan to air their differences, and with other Republican leaders.
Despite several Republicans acknowledging deep fissures within the party about a standardbearer whose policies often stray from conservative orthodoxy, Trump emerged from the meetings sounding optimistic about a rapprochement.
“Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well!” he said on Twitter.
In a joint statement afterward, Trump and Ryan called their meeting a “positive step toward unification” and stressed the party’s paramount goal is to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.
But Ryan, who declared last week that he was “not ready” to support Trump as party flagbearer, withheld his endorsement.
“I think this is going in a positive direction and I think this is a first very encouraging meeting,” Ryan told reporters. “But again, in 45 minutes you don’t litigate all of the processes and all the issues and the principles that we are talking about.”
Despite outstanding differences, Trump appeared to strike a delicate peace with the party establishment that he was so quick to attack on the campaign trail.
“While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground,” the pair said in their statement.
“We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there’s a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal.”
The real estate mogul, who has never run for elective office before, also met with top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has offered his support of Trump.
– ‘Clear the air’ –
But concerns about the tone and substance of Trump’s campaign have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to win the presidency and hold their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Charlie Dent, a centrist House Republican who did not attend Thursday’s meetings, told reporters Trump’s Washington pilgrimage was “an opportunity to clear the air.”
Trump “has to convince many Americans, including myself, that he’s ready to lead this great nation,” he said. “At this point I haven’t been persuaded, but I’m ready to listen.”
Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than 69-year-old Trump, has pledged to overhaul the party’s image and reach out to minority groups.
But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative Trump has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States.
In the latest sign he is tacking toward the center, Trump appeared to walk back his call for a Muslim ban, telling Fox News Radio Wednesday that it was “just a suggestion.”
Ryan said he discussed “core” conservative principles with Trump, including constitutional and right-to-life issues and the separation of powers within the US government.
But he acknowledged that he did not know Trump well enough yet.
“Going forward we’re going to go a little deeper into the policy weeds to make sure that we have a better understanding of one another,” he said.
Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus, who also met with Trump, argued that Ryan was startled at how Trump suddenly prevailed last week, and that the speaker wanted to “kick the tires a little longer” before offering an endorsement.
Outside RNC headquarters about a dozen protesters chanted “Undocumented! Unafraid!” in defiance of Trump’s vow to deport millions of illegal immigrants if elected.
Trump ignored the protesters and entered the building through a back door.
While many upper echelon party figures including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents are opposed to Trump, there are signs of a growing move to unite behind him.
The chairmen of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon Wednesday, saying in a statement released by Trump that “it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee” and maintain GOP majorities in Congress.
– In a pickle –
Democrats were quick to offer their analysis, with leaders in the party insisting their Republican counterparts enabled Trump’s rise with anti-immigrant, anti-woman and obstructionist policies.
“The fact is, Senate Republicans have been governing from the Trump textbook for years,” Senator Chuck Schumer, the likely Senate minority leader next year, told reporters, adding that Republican lawmakers are in a quandary over 2016.
“They embrace him, they have trouble. They run away from him, they have trouble,” Schumer said. “They’re in a huge pickle.”
Some anti-Trump die-hards, including Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that Republicans in tough re-election fights would fare better if they distance themselves from The Donald.
But even Graham appeared to be softening, saying he had a “good 15-minute discussion” by phone with Trump Wednesday about national security, part of Trump’s outreach to party factions.
“This is a wise move on his part,” Graham said.
