Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan may soon endorse presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, a top party leader said today.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said this is based on his assessment of the Trump-Ryan meeting this week, wherein they talked about various policy issues and how to unify the party.
"I don't speak for Paul Ryan, but what I can tell you is that I think both of these guys came into the meeting expecting a good meeting, but I think they left and it was a great meeting," said Priebus, who was the only third person in that room.
"I think they made a lot of progress and I would be surprised if we didn't get there, you know, not too much longer in the distant future," Priebus said.
At the same time, the RNC Chairman said Ryan wants to make sure it's real, he doesn't want to just put on a show.
"He wants to understand and make sure there's a real understanding of each other before he makes that endorsement," he said.
Priebus warned a section of the party leadership on trying to mount a third-party candidate and described this as a suicide mission.
"They could try to hijack another party and get on the ballot, but, look, it's a suicide mission for our country because what it means is that you're throwing down not just eight years of the White House but potentially 100 years on the Supreme Court and wrecking this country for many generations," Priebus said.
"I think that's the legacy these folks will leave behind. I think it's very dangerous and there's other ways to get assurances on the things that they are worried about, which is what Paul Ryan is doing, and making sure that some things are understood before moving forward with some particular people and I think Paul Ryan's approach is much better," Priebus said.
Appearing on the same Sunday Talk Show on Fox News, the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Trump is not a traditional conservative.
"He has never claimed to be a traditional conservative, but he has said that he will nominate very conservative judges, people worthy of Scalia and Thomas. He is clearly working with the Federalist Society and others to put together a speech on the judiciary that will draw a very sharp line with Hillary," he said.
