Former GOP Speaker Paul Ryan Warns of Negative Impact of Trump on Down-Ballot Candidates

The Impact of Trump on Down-Ballot Republican Candidates

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has expressed concern about the potential negative impact of presumptive GOP 2024 nominee Donald Trump on down-ballot Republican candidates. In an interview with Southern Methodist University’s student-run Daily Campus on Tuesday, Ryan emphasized that the presence of Trump could lead to a loss of more seats than anticipated. He attributed this to the disapproval of Trump among suburban swing voters, leading them to vote against Republicans.

A More Unifying Presidential Candidate

Ryan suggested that former GOP hopeful Nikki Haley, who withdrew from the Republican primary race after Super Tuesday, would have been a more unifying presidential candidate. This statement underscores the belief that Haley could have garnered broader support compared to Trump.

Ryan’s Stance on Nationalist Populism and GOP’s Direction

Ryan made it clear that he does not align with the nationalist populism advocated by Trump, a stance that is currently prevalent among the majority of Republicans. Furthermore, he commented on the current state of the GOP, describing it as a cult of personality linked to Trump rather than being grounded in a firm set of principles.

Speaker Ryan’s Prior Criticism of Trump

It is noteworthy that Ryan was a vocal critic of Trump before the latter’s unexpected election victory in 2016 over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. During his tenure as House speaker, Ryan collaborated with the then-president and successfully steered through significant tax cuts before eventually retiring from Congress in 2018. He subsequently joined the board of Fox Corp.

Insightful Interview

The interview with Paul Ryan provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the upcoming 2024 election and sheds light on the internal dynamics within the Republican party.