As GOP primary race comes to an end, pressure mounts for Paul Ryan to back Trump


A reluctant House Speaker Paul Ryan is feeling mounting pressure to support presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, who took two more states in Tuesday's unopposed contests in Nebraska and West Virginia. Ryan and Trump plan to talk Thursday at the Republican National Committee's offices: "I don't go into [the meeting] with huge expectations other than just to have the kind of conversations that we need to start having so that we are getting ourselves on the same page as a party," Ryan said.
But time is ticking. "The number of House members endorsing Trump are growing, and while there are those still holding out, I think everyone will come together — and it's Paul's responsibility to unify them," Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) told Politico.
Meanwhile, some GOP politicians are no longer bothering to hide their frustration. "Any high-ranking Republican — whether Paul Ryan, Reince Priebus, or Jeb Bush — that says they're not supporting the nominee? They have some hard questions to answer about why they're a Republican," Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein