Asked About Trump, Joe Straus Points to Paul Ryan's Comments

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is signaling agreement with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan when it comes to Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

by Patrick Svitek

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was interviewed by Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 17, 2015.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was interviewed by Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at The Texas Tribune Festival on Oct. 17, 2015. Casey Chapman Ross

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is signaling agreement with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan when it comes to Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

On Thursday, Ryan told CNN he was "just not ready" to support Trump, the billionaire who became the presumptive nominee earlier this week. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have asked Texas Republicans to rally around Trump since then. 

"I thought the speaker of the U.S. House had some interesting comments yesterday," Straus told The Texas Tribune on Friday when asked if he planned to back Trump.

Pressed on whether he was agreeing with Ryan, Straus replied, "I will just say that I thought his comments were well-thought out and made a lot of sense to me." 

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Ryan told CNN he hopes to eventually be able to get behind Trump. 

"I think what is required is that we unify this party. And I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee," the U.S. House speaker said. 

Straus, who had supported former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the presidential race, was among the GOP dignitaries in attendance for an unveiling of former Gov. Rick Perry's portrait Friday morning at the Capitol.