WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have put their rocky start behind them and are learning how to get along – for now.
One key to their blossoming new friendship: Along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, they are mapping out an agenda for 2017 that focuses on broad areas of agreement, putting off thorny policy issues that are likely to invite clashes until a later date.
Even so, Trump made clear this week that the warm embrace he now bestows on Ryan can be revoked at any time.
“Every day goes by, I get to appreciate his genius more and more,” Trump told a crowd in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin, comparing the speaker to a “fine wine” before adding a warning: “Now, if he ever goes against me, I’m not going to say that.”
For his part, Ryan, who initially refused to endorse Trump, now brims with enthusiasm at the opportunities afforded by unified GOP control of Washington next year.