Ryan Says 'No' to GOP Presidential Speculation

U.S. Speaker Paul Ryan says that he is officially ending any speculation, once and for all, that he would accept a potential GOP presidential nomination.

"So let me be clear, I do not want, nor will I accept the nomination for our party," Ryan said during a press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon. "So let me speak directly to the delegates on this - if no candidate has a majority in the first ballot, I believe you should only choose for a person who is actually participated in the primary. Count me out."

The Chicago Tribune speculated earlier this week that the Congressman from Janesville could be the only credible option available to the GOP in the event neither Trump nor Cruz were to inspire the GOP.

'Apples and Oranges'

During Tuesday's press conference on Capitol Hill, Speaker Ryan was asked whether his announcement not to accept a potential GOP presidential nomination was similar to his earlier refusals to accept his current role as Speaker of the House - a role which he denied interest in several times before accepting the job.

"It's apples and oranges," Ryan said. "Being speaker of the house is a far cry from being President of the United States, specifically because I was already in the House, I am already a Congressman."

"So I was asked by my colleagues to take a responsibility within Congress that I’ve already been serving in, from the one that I had. That is entirely different than getting the nomination for President of the United States from your party without even running for the job, so a completely non sequitur comparison in my book."

Ryan speaks to Milwaukee media before announcement

Early Tuesday, Ryan said he is "categorically" ruling himself out as a candidate.

"I will not allow my name to be placed in nomination," Ryan said in the interview with WISN radio," And it will not be me. I don't know how I can be clearer than that. ... It should be someone who actually wants to be president or is running for president."

The Announcement

You can watch Ryan's full press conference here, where he delivers his short statement and fields one question before leaving the podium.