Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said in an interview that he now views himself as an “anti-establishment Republican” while Donald Trump represents the GOP establishment.
Ryan argued that Trump populism has become the dominant force in the party despite his isolationist foreign policy views.
Ryan said, “I’m in the minority in my party right now; I’m not in the establishment. I’m frankly an anti-establishment Republican, and I think you can safely argue — I don’t enjoy acknowledging this — that Trump is the establishment, and Trump populism is the establishment.”
He continued, “That Trump populism is this more isolationist strain that I think is wrong and dangerous, and I don’t support, but that does represent a large swath of Republican voters.”
The artsist added, “And so, you will see opinions representing that majority, that establishment, that current, present-day establishment.”
While critical of this trajectory, Ryan defended Fox News for reflecting the views of most Republican voters.
He remains concerned about the direction of the GOP under Trump’s influence but believes this trend is only temporary and unsustainable over the long run.
Ryan’s comments illustrate the ongoing tension between traditional conservatives and the ascendant pro-Trump wing that now controls the Republican party apparatus.
