Politics

Paul Ryan Wants ‘To Be Clear’ About Statement Suggesting Democrats Could Beat Trump In 2020

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David Krayden Ottawa Bureau Chief
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Former House Speaker Paul Ryan wants “to be clear” about a statement he made earlier this week that suggested Democrats could defeat President Donald Trump in 2020.

“To be clear, GOP wins elections when they’re about ideas not when they’re personality conflicts like Dems & media want,” Ryan tweeted Wednesday. “We’re clearly better off because of @RealDonaldTrump. His record of accomplishments is why we’ll win re-election especially when compared to Dems’ leftward lurch.”

Ryan originally created a stir when he suggested Monday that President Donald Trump could lose the 2020 presidential election if the race focuses on Trump’s personality.

“The person who defines that race is going to win the race. If this is about Donald Trump and his personality, he isn’t going to win it,” Ryan predicted. (RELATED: Paul Ryan: ‘Sometimes’ Trump Can Be A Unifier)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - NOVEMBER 10: President-elect Donald Trump meets with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting November 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day president-elect Trump met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Then-President-elect Donald Trump meets with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting Nov. 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day president-elect Trump met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Ryan was in Vero Beach, Florida, participating in a lecture series when he also said he believes there are some Democrats who could win the 2020 presidential election, TCPalm reported.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 04: U.S. President Donald Trump (L), stands with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC), after Republicans passed legislation aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House, on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. The House bill would still need to be passed by the Sebate before being signed into law. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump (L), stands with then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC), after Republicans passed legislation aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare, during an event in the Rose Garden at the White House, on May 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Ryan, a former Republican Wisconsin congressman who served as Speaker of the House for four years, seemed to have an uneven relationship with Trump, appearing sometimes as an ally and at other times an adversary. (RELATED: Paul Ryan Predicts Why Trump May Not Win In 2020)

Ryan was pointedly critical of Trump during the 2016 primaries and did not support his candidacy. After Trump won the GOP nomination, Ryan seemed less than enthusiastic but, more or less, advanced the president’s policies in the House of Representatives where the Republicans enjoyed a majority at the time. In January, during the partial government shutdown, Trump blamed Ryan for not securing funding for a border wall when he had the opportunity to do so, according to one report.

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