Paul Ryan Offers Terse Response To Trump’s Startling NATO Comments

Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, pauses as he waits for the recount of Alaska's votes during the second day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Tuesday, July 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) had little to say in response to Donald Trump’s comments about defending the United States’ NATO allies.

Trump was hesitant to commit to a defense of NATO allies hypothetically invaded by Russia in an interview with the New York Times, saying it would depend on whether Baltic states had “fulfilled their obligations to us.”

Ryan — no stranger to cleaning up after the GOP nominee — responded tersely.

“The speaker believes the U.S. should defend our NATO allies,” Ryan spokeswoman Ashlee Strong told The Washington Post in an email.

Ryan joined the list of Republicans who have rebuffed Trump’s comments, which includes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush.

Latest Livewire
70
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for zsak zsak says:

    Buyer’s remorse yet? Still expect a pivot?

  2. I bet his real reply was even terser. Something like, “Oh, shit!”

  3. Avatar for meri meri says:

    “But I’m still voting for him!”

  4. Trump is your party leader Ryan, better fall in line.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

64 more replies

Participants

Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for ajaykalra Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for meri Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for rudesan Avatar for mantan Avatar for chuck_voellinger Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for mike_in_houston Avatar for ottnott Avatar for barblzz Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for pine Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for azjude Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for primergray Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for toddinhb

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: