House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said he’s “not there yet” on endorsing Donald Trump earlier this month, said he’s willing to step down as chair of the Republican national convention if the presumptive nominee asks.
In an interview with the the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Monday, the Wisconsin Republican said that the convention is Trump’s show, basically.
“He’s the nominee. I’ll do whatever he wants with respect to the convention,” he said.
Ryan may just be trying to strengthen his hand going into a meeting with Trump this week. He’s previously said he hopes to support the Republican nominee but wants to ensure that Trump is a “standard bearer” on conservative principles.
On Monday, Ryan also lowered expectations for the meeting.
“I just want to get to know the guy … we just don’t know each other,” he told the Journal Sentinel.
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Write to Tessa Berenson Rogers at tessa.Rogers@time.com