"Wants me to lose"

Trump: Maybe Paul Ryan wants me to lose so he can run in 2020

By Nolan D. McCaskill

Donald Trump hinted that House Speaker Paul Ryan may be rooting for his downfall.

In an interview conducted Monday with ABC’s Tom Llamas but broadcast Tuesday, Trump suggested Ryan may be putting his own White House ambitions ahead of the Republican Party’s effort to reclaim the Oval Office in November.

Asked on Ryan’s turf in Wisconsin whether he thought the Republican leader wants Trump to defeat Hillary Clinton, the real estate mogul insinuated that Ryan may be looking forward to Trump’s defeat — either so he can run in 2020 or because the former vice presidential nominee doesn’t know how to win.

“Well, maybe not because maybe he wants to run in four years or maybe he doesn't know how to win,” Trump said. “Maybe he doesn't just know how to win.”

Trump’s war with Ryan has been ongoing since the Republican presidential nominee lodged a series of blistering attacks at the man who told the House GOP conference he would no longer support or defend Trump.

In retaliation, Trump had called Ryan a “very weak and ineffective leader” and claimed “there’s a whole sinister deal going on” with Ryan and the Republican establishment. On Monday, though, he seemed to take the high road — at least initially.

“Well, I don't want to be knocking Paul Ryan,” Trump said when asked if the speaker is hurting or helping his campaign.

“I think he could be more supportive to the Republican nominee,” he added. “We’re doing well. I think we’re gonna win the election.”

Trump ally and Fox News host Sean Hannity escalated his attacks Monday, accusing Ryan and the so-called establishment of “stabbing” Trump in the back and “sabotaging” his campaign. During a segment with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, Hannity added that he’s “lost a lot of respect for” Ryan and others like him because they’ve spent more time criticizing Trump than talking about issues such as the Supreme Court and the need for a border wall.

“Why isn’t Paul Ryan talking about that? I think in 23 days — win, lose or draw — we need a long conversation about whether or not he should be speaker of the House,” he said, later adding that Ryan’s weaknesses and broken promises spawned Trump.