Paul Ryan Says He’s ‘There’ Now

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) wrote an op-ed Thursday for his hometown newspaper, The Janesville Gazette, in which he officially endorsed his party’s presidential nominee-in-waiting, Donald Trump.

In part, he wrote:

Donald Trump and I have talked at great length about things such as the proper role of the executive and fundamental principles such as the protection of life. The list of potential Supreme Court nominees he released after our first meeting was very encouraging.

But the House policy agenda has been the main focus of our dialogue. We’ve talked about the common ground this agenda can represent. We’ve discussed how the House can be a driver of policy ideas. We’ve talked about how important these reforms are to saving our country. And we’ve talked about how, by focusing on issues that unite Republicans, we can work together to heal the fissures developed through the primary.

Through these conversations, I feel confident he would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people’s lives. That’s why I’ll be voting for him this fall.

It’s no secret that he and I have our differences. I won’t pretend otherwise. And when I feel the need to, I’ll continue to speak my mind. But the reality is, on the issues that make up our agenda, we have more common ground than disagreement.

For me, it’s a question of how to move ahead on the ideas that I—and my House colleagues—have invested so much in through the years. It’s not just a choice of two people, but of two visions for America. And House Republicans are helping shape that Republican vision by offering a bold policy agenda, by offering a better way ahead.

Donald Trump can help us make it a reality.

As late as last week, Ryan’s office was stomping out rumors that he would be endorsing the businessman, saying that while progress had been made, he still “wasn’t there, yet.” It would appear he’s “there” now.