Paul Ryan, the top elected U.S. Republican, ended a long period of soul-searching and endorsed Donald Trump for president Thursday, further leaving no doubt the real estate billionaire will secure the Republican Party’s nomination in the upcoming party convention.
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The House of Representatives speaker announced his support in a column for the Janesville Gazette newspaper in his home state of Wisconsin.
"It’s no secret that he and I have our differences. I won’t pretend otherwise," Ryan wrote. "And when I feel the need to, I’ll continue to speak my mind. But the reality is, on the issues that make up our agenda, we have more common ground than disagreement."
Ryan said he and Trump had spoken many times in recent weeks about how, "by focusing on issues that unite Republicans, we can work together to heal the fissures developed through the primary."
"Through these conversations, I feel confident he would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people's lives. That’s why I’ll be voting for him this fall," Ryan added.
Ryan had been a high-profile holdout to supporting Trump for the Nov. 8 presidential election out of concern about the presumptive Republican nominee's bellicose rhetoric and break with party orthodoxy on issues including trade and immigration.
While Ryan did not specifically use the word "endorse" in his column, his spokesman, Brendan Buck, made clear that Ryan's move should be seen as an endorsement.
The speaker had criticized the Republican candidate several times, including Trump's proposal in December to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United States because of national security concerns.
In a tweet, Trump responded: "So great to have the endorsement and support of Paul Ryan. We will both be working very hard to Make America Great Again!"
Ryan's backing of Trump could give cover to more reluctant Republicans to get behind the billionaire businessman as their best chance to win the White House.
It should also help Trump make the case that he can bring the party together as he girds for a Republican nominating convention in July that many party leaders plan to skip.
Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid described Ryan's move as "abject surrender," adding: "The GOP is Trump's party now." Ryan met Trump in a high-profile meeting last month and they have since had a number of telephone calls.