Ryan discusses GOP agenda with Trump, Cruz

Making good on his word, Speaker Paul Ryan phoned GOP presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, briefing them on House Republicans’ efforts to craft a bold, election-year agenda, a Ryan aide said Monday.

The Speaker, a Republican from Wisconsin, plans to hold similar calls with the other two remaining GOP presidential contenders, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. Kasich.

No other information about the calls was provided.

The phone calls came amid growing tension between Trump, the GOP front-runner, and Ryan, who was Mitt Romney’s vice presidential running mate in 2012.

Late last week, Romney gave a scathing speech ripping Trump as a “phony” and “fraud” who had deceived American voters. He called on Republicans to defeat Trump.

Days earlier, Ryan took Trump to task for failing to forcefully reject an endorsement from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Trump, after a triumphant night on Super Tuesday, warned Ryan that he better get along with him or “pay a big price.”

Despite the harsh exchanges, Ryan vowed last week to set up calls with all four candidates to fill them in on House GOP efforts to develop a positive 2016 agenda, even as the presidential contest has devolved into name calling and personal attacks.

Focused on things such as national security, jobs and anti-poverty measures, the agenda is designed to present a contrast with Democrats and lay out a positive vision for what Republicans might accomplish if they win the White House in November.