Politics

Paul Ryan Responds to the Fears About a Trump Presidency

November 13th 2016

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan addressed Americans’ fear surrounding the Trump presidency.

Paul RyanCNN - cnn.com

“There are millions of Americans out there," CNN host John Tapper said, “who are, frankly, terrified about what this America under President Trump will mean for them. Is there anything that you as Speaker of the House, one of the leaders of the nation want to say to them?”

"I hate it that people feel this way,” Ryan responded. “And second of all, they should not. I think people should be rest assured, America is a pluralistic inclusive country. It is, it has been, and it will continue to be. So, I really think people should put their minds at ease.”

Tapper then brought up the increased reports of racially motivated harassment happening nationwide. “That’s terrible,” Ryan replied. “By the way, that’s not Republicans. We are the party of Lincoln. People who espouse those views, they’re not Republicans. We don’t want them in our party even if they’re thinking about it. And I’m confident Donald Trump feels the same way.”

As social media users pointed out, Ryan's comments come on the same day that Trump announced former Breitbart.com editor Stephen Bannon would serve as his chief strategist and senior counselor. The Southern Poverty Law Center has described Bannon as "the main driver behind Breitbart becoming a white ethno-nationalist propaganda mill."

Social media users were also skeptical regarding Ryan's comments.

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank wrote the following about Bannon when he was named Trump's campaign CEO in August: 

[He] has called the pope a “commie” and said Catholics are trying to boost Hispanic immigration because their “church is dying.” He called Gabby Giffords, a former congresswoman who was shot in the head, a “human shield” and the mayor of London a “radical Muslim.” Hillary Clinton, in Bannon’s telling, is a “grifter” who would take the country to the “last days of Sodom.”

Share your opinion

Do you think Trump will listen to Paul Ryan?

Yes 7%No 93%