Mr. Ryan, Your Views on Donald Trump? Next Question, Please
The House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, has expressed no particular opinion on the stop-and-frisk police tactics advocated this week by Donald J. Trump. He does not have any certain thoughts about Mr. Trump’s repeated praise of Vladimir V. Putin. He sort of suggested that Mr. Trump should release his tax returns, but what he really meant, it seems, is that candidates in general should do so. Then again, he said that he would “defer” to Mr. Trump on the decision.
.. Since Congress returned from its seven-week recess this month, Mr. Ryan has largely refused to answer any question about Mr. Trump, from his policy proposals and campaign antics to his latest controversial statements.
.. This is in stark contrast to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, who wasted no time in endorsing Mr. Trump and has maintained his support at roughly the temperature of a cup of day-old Earl Grey tea, rarely criticizing even Mr. Trump’s most incendiary remarks.