House Speaker Paul Ryan and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump said in a joint statement after their Thursday Capitol Hill meeting they had an “honest” conversation about their differences but took a “positive first step” toward party unity.
The statement emphasized their shared goal of preventing Democrat Hillary Clinton from winning the White House in the fall.
“With that focus, we had a great conversation this morning. We were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground,” Ryan and Trump said.
The statement also said they are “extremely proud” of bringing millions of new voters into the party’s primary process, a claim Trump has repeatedly made about his value to the GOP.
Read the full statement via ABC News:
NEW: Statement by Speaker Ryan and Trump: “It’s critical that Republicans unite…& do all we can to win this fall.” pic.twitter.com/eGOsQF4Tro
— ABC News (@ABC) May 12, 2016
Greg Walden, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement that while he disagrees with some of Trump’s tactics, they have the same end game in mind.
“The last thing I want is to give the same Obama/Clinton/Sanders philosophy another four years in charge,” he said in the statement provided to TPM. “While I may disagree with the rhetoric Mr. Trump uses and some policy positions, he is the better option than Hillary Clinton in the White House. That’s why all along I’ve said I intend to support the GOP nominee.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said in a statement that the meeting an important first step.
Statement from @cathymcmorris, highest ranking woman in House GOP, who shares Ryan’s qualms. pic.twitter.com/qrnESLzvKb
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) May 12, 2016
This post has been updated.
