House Speaker Paul Ryan will meet with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump next week, after both had publicly declined to support the other in recent days.
Trump, Ryan and other House Republican leaders will convene Thursday "to begin a discussion about the kind of Republican principles and ideas that can win the support of the American people" in November's election, Ryan's office said in a statement. The speaker and Trump will hold a separate meeting with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
With the departure of his last two remaining opponents this week, Trump, the billionaire businessman, all but assured he will be the party's standard-bearer in November. However, his positions and often divisive rhetoric have left some GOP lawmakers hesitant to endorse him.
On Thursday, Ryan told CNN he was "not ready" to support Trump yet. He had previously said he would support the Republican nominee.
"I think conservatives want to know does he share our values and our principles," he said. "There's a lot of questions conservatives are going to want answers to."
Trump responded in a statement Thursday, saying he is "not ready to support Speaker Ryan's agenda." However, he said he and Ryan could potentially "come to an agreement about what is best for the American people."
While Ryan has not ruled out supporting Trump, other prominent Republicans have refused to comment on his likely nomination. Former President George H.W. Bush will not endorse Trump, his spokesman told NBC News. His son and former President George W. Bush "does not plan to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign," a personal aide told The Texas Tribune.
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who harshly criticized Trump in a speech earlier this year, also said he will not back him.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who ran in the 2016 GOP primary, added that he could not support Trump "because (he does not) believe he is a reliable Republican conservative."