The turmoil within the national Republican leadership took a new twist Monday with House Speaker Paul Ryan telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he's willing to step down as the co-chairman of the GOP convention if presumptive nominee Donald Trump asks him to.
Trump hasn't ruled out removing Ryan as convention chairman.
Ryan told the newspaper he'd "do whatever he wants with respect to the convention," adding he wants to "get to know the guy" and leaving the door open for a future endorsement.
Last week, the Wisconsin Republican announced he wasn't ready to support Trump, saying the businessman must do more to unify the GOP.
Ryan and Trump are scheduled to meet later this week.
Ryan also took criticism from former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin for not fully supporting Trump's candidacy.
Palin suggested Ryan's motives have more to do with his own aspirations for running for the presidency in 2020, but Ryan told the newspaper that he could have run for president during the last two cycles but declined to do so.
Trump earlier Monday distanced himself from Palin’s comments from over the weekend, saying that Palin is a “free agent.”
Trump has expressed surprise at Ryan's rebuff of him as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, telling Fox News Channel "it's something the party should get solved quickly" and criticizing Ryan for losing a winnable bid for the White House in 2012.
Some Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, have offered grudging support for Trump, while others such as the Bush family have refused to endorse the candidate.
