Mike Pence Breaks With Donald Trump, Endorses House Speaker Paul Ryan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP)-- Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence is breaking with the Republican nominee by endorsing House Speaker Paul Ryan in his primary fight.
Pence said in a phone interview with Fox News Channel that he's pleased to endorse Ryan.
The move comes a day after Trump said in an interview that he's "just not quite there yet'' when it comes to backing Ryan, who has at times been critical of Trump's most controversial comments.
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"I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump told The Washington Post. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet. I'm not quite there yet."
Pence says that he spoke with Trump Wednesday morning about his "support for Paul Ryan and our longtime friendship.''
He says Trump, "strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. And I'm pleased to do it.''
Trump also declined to back Sen. John McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam who was critical of Trump's criticism of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004.
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