Politics

Trump drops out of Paul Ryan event amid latest controversy

WASHINGTON — It’s long been clear that House Speaker Paul Ryan is, shall we say, not wholly comfortable with Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy.

The latest reminder came Friday when Trump’s vulgar comments about women in 2005 surfaced. Trump was to appear with Ryan at an annual festival in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin, the first time the highest-ranking Republican in the federal government had campaigned with the GOP’s presidential nominee.

Amid the furor from Republicans and Democrats over Trump’s remarks, Ryan issued a statement saying he was “sickened” by them and that Trump wouldn’t be coming to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, after all. A short time later, Trump announced that his running mate, Mike Pence, would be going in his place while he spent the day preparing for Sunday night’s debate.

Warning: Explicit language

Ryan hadn’t exactly trumpeted the New York businessman’s appearance in the first place. In an awkwardly worded missive on Thursday, it was noted that top Wisconsin Republicans, including Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ron Johnson, would be joining the congressman. Not until the third paragraph of Ryan’s release was it noted that that Trump would be on hand, too.

In the news business, that’s known as “burying the lead.”

The announcement also didn’t say that Ryan would actually campaign for Trump, just that they would be appearing at the same event.

Asked Thursday why he hadn’t appeared with Trump, Ryan said, “I’ve been busy doing my job.” He added: “I want to win up and down the ballot, but my primary responsibility is re-election of House Republicans.”