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RNC Chairman Attempts A Brave Face

by Emily Shire

On Thursday, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan met in Washington, D.C. to see if they could mend fences and unite the party ahead of the Republican National Convention in July. While party members and pundits waited with (sort of) bated breath to see what would come of the meeting, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has already declared it a success. He tweeted out: "The meeting was great. It was a very positive step toward party unity."

Of course, in reality, there is little else the RNC chairman could say when the party is in such an awkward, fractious situation. Last week, Ryan dropped a party bombshell when he told CNN's Jake Tapper he was "just not ready" to support Trump. He added, "We want a standard-bearer that bears our standards" — with the clear implication that the reality TV business mogul did not meet those standards. Ryan made it clear he was willing to endorse Trump, if he softened his tone and fell closer in line with party values. Trump, in turn, responded to Ryan's non-endorsement with his own statement: "I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan's agenda. Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people. They have been treated so badly for so long that it is about time for politicians to put them first!"

Whether Priebus' brave face is just a mask remains to be seen. However, it's not looking like the meeting went as promisingly as the RNC chairman sold it as in his tweet. According to CNN, a Trump aide said the campaign is not expecting an endorsement today. Fox News reported that Trump left the meeting and headed to the Senate.