Donald Trump said Tuesday he wasn't yet prepared to support House Speaker Paul Ryan in his upcoming primary, and indicated he is not supporting Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) in his own primary race, bucking GOP efforts to mend party divisions.
Trump told the Washington Post he is "not quite there yet" in endorsing Ryan, whose Wisconsin primary is scheduled for next Tuesday. He also criticized Sen. Kelly Ayotte as a "weak and disloyal" leader in New Hampshire, where Trump easily clinched victory during the primary election.
"I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country," Trump said. "We need very strong leadership. We need very, very strong leadership. And I'm just not quite there yet."
Trump said he was only giving a Ryan endorsement "very serious consideration" despite requests from the party's highest ranking officials. He praised Ryan's primary challenger Paul Nehlen for running a "very good campaign."
"Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement," said Zack Roday, a Ryan campaign spokesman. "And we are confident in a victory next week regardless."
Of McCain, Trump said, "I’ve never been there with John McCain because I’ve always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets."
Both Ryan and McCain have been critical of the Republican presidential nominee, most recently disavowing Trump's attacks on the family of a Muslim American soldier who died in combat.
"Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military, and made the ultimate sacrifice," Ryan said in a statement Sunday. "Captain Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice — and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan — should always be honored. Period."
Ryan has also spoken out against Trump's calls to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. and to build a wall on the southwest border to stunt the flow of illegal immigrants.
McCain, a Vietnam war hero, also condemned Trump's comments about the Khan family during the weekend. Trump said he had not yet endorsed McCain and criticized him for not doing a "good job for the vets."
"I’ve always had a difficult time with John for that reason, because our vets are not being treated properly," Trump told the Washington Post. "They’re not being treated fairly."
McCain is in a tight race in Arizona against former Republican state senator Kelli Ward and conservative activist Clair Van Steenwyk. That election will be held Aug. 30.