Paul Ryan 'Not Ready' to Back Donald Trump

House Speaker Paul Ryan, the country's highest-ranking Republican in office, said he is "not ready" to endorse Donald Trump for a potential GOP presidential nomination.

"I hope to support our nominee," Ryan said on CNN. "I'm just not there right now. We have work to do. Our nominee has work to do."

Ryan is the current chariman of the Republican National Convention and has gone on record repeatedly saying he would support the GOP's nominee.

That said, Ryan has been critical of Trump's opinions on a variety of topics.

According to a Politico report, Ryan said he was opposed to Trump's plan to restrict entry of Muslims into the United States, and when Trump seemed reluctant to disavow former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, Ryan said, "This party doesn't prey on people's prejudices."

Trump responded with a statement Thursday evening.

"I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan's agenda. Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people. They have been treated so badly for so long that it is about time for politicians to put them first!"

"Lincoln and Reaganesque"

During Thursday's CNN interview, Ryan had this to say about Trump: “We hope that our nominee aspires to be Lincoln and Reaganesque,” someone who “appeals to a vast majority of Americans.”

Ryan later hit the campaign trail at the Veterans Terrace in Burlington for a gathering of about 100 supporters as he stumped for Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who is seeking re-election versus Democratic challenger Russ Feingold.

According to a Journal Sentinel report from Thursday's event, neither Ryan nor Johnson spoke about Trump.

Clinton Capitalizes:

The Hillary Clinton presidential campaign wasted no time responding to the news, issuing this statement:

On Tuesday, Donald Trump effectively captured the Republican nomination, successfully bullying his way through a crowded primary field. However, many prominent activists, journalists and elected officials in his own party have figured out what Hillary Clinton has argued all along: Donald Trump is too big a risk for America.

Her campaign is also compiling a list of conservatives who they say "Rebuke Trump"

Take a look at the large group of prominent conservatives who are already promising that they’ll never vote for Trump.

As of Thursday, there are 74 days until the GOP Convention kicks off in Cleveland, Ohio. Stay tuned.

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