Ryan and Trump set for crisis meeting amid 'unprecedented' stand off

Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan are set to have a one-on-one crisis meeting after the most senior elected Republican said he was not yet able to endorse the party’s presumptive presidential candidate.

Reports said that Republican officials were trying to broker a meeting for next Wednesday, after Mr Ryan stunned political observers, and perhaps Mr Trump, with his comment that he needed the tycoon to display true “conservative principles” before he could throw his full support behind him.

“I want to see verification that our conservative principles will be championed. We’re not there yet,” he added.

Mr Ryan’s comments, and his refusal to support the candidate, were were unprecedented in modern times.

In 1896, Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed ran against William McKinley and said he would not serve as vice president, but ended up backing the nominee.

Mr Trump, who on Thursday evening had issued a statement saying that he was not ready to adopt Mr Ryan’s agenda, appeared on Friday to be open to some sort of compromise.

At the same time he made clear he was not pleased with Mr Ryan’s comments, that revealed a deep wariness within the Republican establishment about Mr Trump’s candidacy. The New York tycoon said the refusal to offer an endorsement was not a good thing and the party should resolve it.

“I mean, he talks about unity, but what is this about unity?” he told Fox News. “With millions of people coming into the party, obviously I’m saying the right thing.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, said be believed “it’s going to work out” in the end.

“In some cases people are not going to be instantly on board, and I know that can be frustrating for some people. But I think everyone has to allow a little bit of the steam to get out and get everybody settled down. And I think this is going to come together,” he said.

Mr Trump has sparked unease within sections of his of the Republican party with his abrasive manner, derogatory comments about women and immigrants as well as several of his opinions, which do not match Republican orthodoxy. Mr Trump and Mr Ryan are particularly at odds over the issue of free trade, with the real estate mogul supporting some tariffs.

A number of senior Republicans, including the two last Republican presidents, have made clear they will not be attending the party’s July convention in Cleveland.

One thing Mr Trump sought to tidy up was speculation that he might look outside the party and choose a Democrat for a running mate. He said he would not do that.

“We want to have a great ticket. The Democrats have been in there for a long time, the economy is terrible,” Mr Trump said. “I’m going to pick a great Republican, and we’re going to have a tremendous victory.”

Last year, the Republicans went to great lengths to keep Mr Trump from leaving the party when he repeatedly threatened to run as an independent. The party’s chairman asked all candidates to sign a unity pledge promising to support the eventual nominee. But by the end of the brutal nominating contest, all of the three remaining candidates broke that pledge.