Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday morning against House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and other Republicans who have distanced themselves from him, as the extraordinary turbulence in the Republican Party intensified four weeks from Election Day.
In tweets, Trump called Ryan “weak and ineffective,” accused him of providing “zero support,” said Democrats are more loyal than Republicans and declared that “the shackles have been taken off” him, freeing him to “fight for America the way I want to.”
Despite winning the second debate in a landslide (every poll), it is hard to do well when Paul Ryan and others give zero support!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
Our very weak and ineffective leader, Paul Ryan, had a bad conference call where his members went wild at his disloyalty.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
With the exception of cheating Bernie out of the nom the Dems have always proven to be far more loyal to each other than the Republicans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
Disloyal R's are far more difficult than Crooked Hillary. They come at you from all sides. They don’t know how to win - I will teach them!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
Ryan said Monday that he would no longer defend or campaign with Trump. The Republican presidential nominee lost substantial support among GOP elected officials after The Washington Post reported on a 2005 video in which Trump can be heard making vulgar comments about physically forcing himself on women.
“Paul Ryan is focusing the next month on defeating Democrats, and all Republicans running for office should probably do the same,” Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said in a statement responding to Trump's tweets.