House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Wednesday that he and White House adviser Steve Bannon have their differences, but Ryan insisted that they are united behind a common goal.
During an interview for “NewsHour,” PBS’ Judy Woodruff noted that Breitbart, the right wing website that Bannon used to lead, opposed Ryan in his last Republican primary. Woodruff asked Ryan about his relationship with Bannon.
Ryan said that he doesn’t know Bannon well, having only met him two or three times.
“He’s not someone I have a history with. Obviously, I didn’t know him when he was opposing me all those times. We’re different kinds of conservatives — that’s something that I can safely say, I think.” Ryan said. “But we’re serving a purpose, which is to get this agenda passed.”
The speaker said that he and Bannon agree on Republicans’ agenda right now.
“And on this agenda that we have rolled out, that we ran on, on that, we agree. So I see a person in which I have a common cause and purpose with,” Ryan said. “We’re different kinds of conservatives. We really don’t know each other, but we’re all trying to get this agenda enacted. And that’s why I don’t see a problem here.”
Woodruff also asked Ryan about a filing submitted by former State Department and CIA officials warning that President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending the refugee program and barring travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries could endanger the United States’ national security.
“I think the rhetoric is damaging, no two ways about it,” Ryan replied.
But the speaker quickly moved on to defend the order and insist that the U.S. must put in place better vetting procedures for refugees.
Watch the interview via PBS:
