Speaker Paul Ryan said he will no longer "defend Trump" or campaign with him.

Speaker Paul Ryan said he will no longer "defend Trump" or campaign with him. | M. Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO

Ryan to House lawmakers: I 'won't defend Trump'

Speaker Paul Ryan told Republican lawmakers on a conference call Monday morning that he will focus the next four weeks on keeping the House majority. Ryan said he "won't defend Trump" or campaign with him before the election, according to GOP sources — a clear sign he's more concerned about holding the majority than winning the White House.

On the call, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also told lawmakers to take a deep breath and focus on their own races.