Now the 'shackles' are off, as Trump unloads on 'weak and ineffective' Paul Ryan as split within the GOP boils over

  • House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow Republicans Monday 'you all need to do what's best for you and your district'
  • The Speaker said he will no longer campaign with Republican nominee but he didn't rescind his endorsement
  • Trump hit back Monday saying Ryan 'should more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee'
  • 'It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me' 
  • He stoked the controversy again on Tuesday with a tweet
  • He deleted the tweet, then posted it again about 40 minutes later with a typo fixed 
  • Ryan made his stunning announcement that he won't campaign for Trump on conference call with fellow House Republicans Monday morning
  • The call occurred days after an 11-year old tape featuring crude comments by the nominee about women    

If this was the restrained Donald Trump, establishment Republicans led by Speaker Paul Ryan are about to find out what the unshackled one is like.

In an escalating feud that highlights the internal GOP schism over Trump's candidacy, the  Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump unloaded on Ryan a day after Ryan told fellow Republicans he would not campaign for his own party's nominee.

Trump blasted Ryan for for providing 'zero support' for his campaign – then hinted there was much more to come.

'It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to,' Trump tweeted late Tuesday morning.

He started the barrage against Ryan with an early morning tweet. 

'Our very weak and ineffective leader, Paul Ryan, had a bad conference call where his members went wild at his disloyalty,' the GOP presidential candidate tweeted Tuesday, the day after Ryan distanced himself from Trump on a GOP conference call.

LAST STRAW: House Speaker Paul Ryan says he will no longer defend or campaign with Donald Trump after the release of an explosive video where his party's presidential nominee used crude language about women

LAST STRAW: House Speaker Paul Ryan says he will no longer defend or campaign with Donald Trump after the release of an explosive video where his party's presidential nominee used crude language about women

'Despite winning the second debate in a landslide (every poll), it is hard to do well when Paul Ryan and others give zero support!' Trump wrote in another tweet.

Trump sent out the initial tweet Tuesday morning, then deleted it and sent it out again after correcting the spelling of the word 'despite.'

It was Trump's second shot at Ryan in as many days, after Ryan said he won't campaign for GOP presidential nominee in a stunning party split. 

Trump was referencing pushback Ryan received on the call from conservative fellow-Republicans like Rep. Louis Gohmert of Texas, who urged his colleagues to stand by Trump.

Appearing on Fox News on Tuesday, Gohmert, a Texas Republican, blamed Bill Clinton for Trump's comments on the infamous 'p****' tape.

'Trump has said some things that are very vile back when he was supporting people like Bill Clinton, but if you’re Bill Clinton’s big buddy, like he was at one time, you’re going to talk like Bill Clinton and I think we need to forgive him for talking like big Democrats, like Clinton and other foul-mouthed people,' Gohmert said.

'Now he is a Republican, James Dobson tells me he’s become a Christian. So look, we forgive him for the past because he’s asked for it.'

Trump, who's campaign has been marked by a series of escalating insults of opponents and establishment figures from his own party, then tweeted that, 'It is so nice that the shackles have been taken off me and I can now fight for America the way I want to.' 

Ryan's response to the slew of attacks was mild.

His office said he's focused on defeating Democrats 'and all Republicans running for office should probably do the same.' 

Donald Trump followed up a series of tweets blasting House Speaker Paul Ryan with one saying the 'shackles have been taken off'

Donald Trump followed up a series of tweets blasting House Speaker Paul Ryan with one saying the 'shackles have been taken off'

CIVIL WAR? Trump blasts Ryan as 'weak and ineffective' after the House Speaker said he will not campaign with Trump following a tape that captured Trump's crude remarks

CIVIL WAR? Trump blasts Ryan as 'weak and ineffective' after the House Speaker said he will not campaign with Trump following a tape that captured Trump's crude remarks

Donald Trump hit back at Speaker Paul Ryan again on Twitter Tuesday

Donald Trump hit back at Speaker Paul Ryan again on Twitter Tuesday

Rebuke: How Trump responded to Ryan's decision not to campaign for or defend him on Monday

Rebuke: How Trump responded to Ryan's decision not to campaign for or defend him on Monday

CHECK FOR SPITE: Trump sent out the anti-Ryan Tweet Tuesday morning but misspelled the word 'despite'

CHECK FOR SPITE: Trump sent out the anti-Ryan Tweet Tuesday morning but misspelled the word 'despite'

As word first broke about Ryan's decision not to campaign for Trump Monday, Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong told DailyMail.com: 'The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities.

Trump responded to the news on Twitter saying: 'Paul Ryan should more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee.'

Ryan has spent decades carving out a role as a budget expert and once chaired the House Budget Committee.

Trump had been set to appear with Ryan at his annual 'Fall Fest' when the explosive 'Access Hollywood' tapes emerged. He got asked not to attend, and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence later withdrew. 

The clash comes as more than three dozen other elected Republicans bailed on Trump following  the release of the 11-year old tape of Trump making crude comments about women before taping an appearance on a soap opera.

On Sunday, when it's not clear whether Trump's 'shackles' were on or off, he brought four Clinton accusers to the presidential debate

On Sunday, when it's not clear whether Trump's 'shackles' were on or off, he brought four Clinton accusers to the presidential debate

Ryan, who has endorsed Trump, won't even be seen with his party's nominee before the November 8th election – and will not defend him, after the candidate himself apologized for lewd comments about women captured on an 11-year old video.  

Ryan himself had been considered a possible 2016 presidential candidate but deferred. Some backers even hoped he would jump in the race late to 'stop Trump.'

Ryan is still considered a possible 2020 presidential prospect – a role that could put him on a collision course with Trump forces should Trump lose the election and still seek to influence the outcome one way or another. 

Former House leadership staffer Doug Heye said of Ryan's dilemma: 'He's got a conscience problem going where other Republicans are.' He told DailyMail.com: 'He's not going to completely dump him and risk a revolt ... But he's not going to defend the indefensible.'

'The easy thing to do would be to just completely dump him,' he said.  

UNCHAINED: Trump blasted House Speaker Paul Ryan in a series of tweets Tuesday

UNCHAINED: Trump blasted House Speaker Paul Ryan in a series of tweets Tuesday

Republicans held a Monday morning conference call to assess the damage done by the latest taped revelations, as polling has showed Hillary Clinton pulling away in critical swing states.

Ryan endorsed Trump after a lengthy period of contemplation where he at first said he wasn't 'ready' to back his party's nominee given prior controversial statements. 

'There is no update in his position at this time,' his spokeswoman said about Ryan's apparently still-intact endorsement.

And he is not yet granting that Democrat Hillary Clinton will be the next president. 'He said explicitly on the call he is not conceding,' said Strong. 

'He said he will not defend Trump or campaign with him for the next 30 days,' a person on the call said according to AFP.

Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, appeared to try to warn Ryan Monday morning in comments on CBS. 

Donald Trump had been set to appear with Ryan in Wisconsin at the Speaker's Fall Fest event until the release of the crude audio and videotape of Trump

Donald Trump had been set to appear with Ryan in Wisconsin at the Speaker's Fall Fest event until the release of the crude audio and videotape of Trump

BACK TURNED: Ryan's announcement came hours after Trump debated Hillary Clinton on Monday night in St. Louis

BACK TURNED: Ryan's announcement came hours after Trump debated Hillary Clinton on Monday night in St. Louis

Trump brought Bill Clinton accusers Paula Jones (L), Kathleen Willey (C) and Juanita Broaddrick (R) to the second presidential debate, despite warnings by establishment Republicans that the move might alienate voters

Trump brought Bill Clinton accusers Paula Jones (L), Kathleen Willey (C) and Juanita Broaddrick (R) to the second presidential debate, despite warnings by establishment Republicans that the move might alienate voters

HAY, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN: Ryan campaigned with Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who is up for reelection – but Trump won't be getting a helping hand from the Speaker

HAY, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN: Ryan campaigned with Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who is up for reelection – but Trump won't be getting a helping hand from the Speaker

'I certainly hope Speaker Ryan keeps his word and his endorsement of Donald Trump,' Conway said. 

'Speaker Ryan, of course, took to the stage in Wisconsin in his event and faced some boos from the crowd because those who were [there] expected to see Donald Trump,' she added. 'But we're happy the speaker of the House has endorsed the nominee Donald Trump.' 

On Monday morning, Conway appeared to try to warn Ryan, when she said, 'I certainly hope Speaker Ryan keeps his word and his endorsement of Donald Trump'

On Monday morning, Conway appeared to try to warn Ryan, when she said, 'I certainly hope Speaker Ryan keeps his word and his endorsement of Donald Trump'

BAD SIGN: When Trump met with Ryan in May, the two men were not photographed together

BAD SIGN: When Trump met with Ryan in May, the two men were not photographed together

The Clinton campaign tweeted after the stunning news broke: ''Ryan is still endorsing Trump.'  

Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller was unfazed by the development  in a tweet.

'Nothing's changed. Mr. Trump’s campaign has always been powered by a grassroots movement, not Washington. 

Ryan's announcement came just hours after Trump and Clinton faced off in the second presidential debate.

Observers said Trump's performance was considerably stronger than it was in the first debate – but Trump rejected advice offered publicly by leading Republicans to steer clear of attacks on charges by women against former president Bill Clinton.

Instead, Trump brought Bill Clinton accusers Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, and Juanita Broaddrick to a surprise press conference and invited them as his guests inside the debate.

Ryan made his announcement to fellow Republicans amid concern among their ranks that the campaign Trump is running may not only prove unsuccessful, but could imperil the GOP's Senate majority or even its House majority.

More than three dozen senators, governors, and members of Congress have said they will not vote for their party's nominee, according to a USA Today survey up until Sunday night. 

Among them is 2008 GOP Senator John McCain, who is up for reelection, and said he will instead write in 'the name of some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be President.' 

Ohio Senator Rob Portman, who is outperforming Trump in the critical battleground state, announced, 'While I continue to respect those who still support Donald Trump, I can no longer support him. I continue to believe our country cannot afford a Hillary. I will be voting for Mike Pence for President,' in reference to Trump's running mate.

The obvious split in the party will be on display when Ryan barnstorms the country supporting other GOP candidates not named Trump.

Ryan plans to appear in 17 states and 42 cities this month, Politico reported.

 

 

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