Ryan: I Think Trump Is ‘Learning’ When It Comes To Race Issues

UNITED STATES - MAY 18: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., holds his weekly news conference in the Capitol on Thursday, May 18, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Sunday said he thinks President Donald Trump is “learning” when it comes to race issues in the United States.

“I think, like I said before, he’s learning. I know his heart’s in the right place,” Ryan said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“How do you know that?” John Dickerson asked.

“I’ve had some candid conversations with him about this, especially during that time,” Ryan said, referring to the aftermath of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned violent. “I’ve had some very candid conversations, and so I do really believe his heart’s in the right place.”

Asked about Trump’s ongoing attacks on NFL players and coaches who protest by kneeling during the national anthem, often to call attention to the treatment of minorities in the United States, Ryan said he thinks Trump has “got a point.”

“What I think a lot of people who are protesting on that don’t necessarily see is that other people see it as disrespecting the country, what it stands for, the flag, and the people who died to protect it,” Ryan said.

He said people “clearly” can “express themselves under the First Amendment however they want to.”

“But what so many Americans — I see this at home — see is you’re disrespecting the idea of America, that we want to make this free country a more perfect union,” Ryan said, “and that people have died and fought and survived to protect it, so they don’t see the point that they’re trying to make.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. I knew Ryan was dumb as a post. But sucking at Trump’s whatever is so disgusting.

  2. “I’ve had some very candid conversations, and so I do really believe his heart’s in the right place.”

    Translation: I take Trump at his word on this and on other things. And so should you.

    Idiot.

  3. Avatar for remy remy says:

    …and he said that his heart is in the right place. I wonder which heart!!!

  4. Yea, I was thinking - did he rent one?

  5. “Learning.” He’s 71. He’s done all the learning he’s gonna do.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

94 more replies

Participants

Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for thebigragu Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for baffie2 Avatar for lastroth Avatar for dorothycharlesbanks Avatar for sanni Avatar for dickweed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for cincypix Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for jonnygee Avatar for coimmigrant Avatar for remy Avatar for ncgirl741 Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for ohcomeonnow Avatar for karlwlewis

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: