Trump slams Paul Ryan for ‘atrocious’ record: ‘Couldn’t get him out of Congress fast enough!’

President Trump went on a tear against former Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) late Thursday night, lambasting his “atrocious” record after excerpts from a forthcoming book described the former GOP leader as exasperated with the president.

In a trio of tweets, Trump blasted Ryan over his failed 2012 vice presidential bid on a ticket with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), ripped him over his inability to secure funding for a border wall and blamed the former Speaker for losing the Republican majority in the House last year.

{mosads}”Paul Ryan, the failed V.P. candidate & former Speaker of the House, whose record of achievement was atrocious (except during my first two years as President), ultimately became a long running lame duck failure, leaving his Party in the lurch both as a fundraiser & leader,” Trump tweeted.

“He quit Congress because he didn’t know how to Win,” Trump continued. “They gave me standing O’s in the Great State of Wisconsin, & booed him off the stage. He promised me the Wall, & failed (happening anyway!)

“He had the Majority & blew it away with his poor leadership and bad timing. Never knew how to go after the Dems like they go after us. Couldn’t get him out of Congress fast enough!”

Paul Ryan, the failed V.P. candidate & former Speaker of the House, whose record of achievement was atrocious (except during my first two years as President), ultimately became a long running lame duck failure, leaving his Party in the lurch both as a fundraiser & leader……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2019

….He had the Majority & blew it away with his poor leadership and bad timing. Never knew how to go after the Dems like they go after us. Couldn’t get him out of Congress fast enough!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2019

The late-night rant came hours after excerpts from “American Carnage,” a new book by Politico’s Tim Alberta, reported by The Washington Post said that Ryan viewed his retirement from Congress last year as an “escape hatch.”

The former Speaker offers withering critiques of the president over his rhetoric and governing style, adding that he feels the country has been “numbed” to Trump’s behavior.

“Those of us around him really helped to stop him from making bad decisions. All the time,” Ryan told Alberta. “We helped him make much better decisions, which were contrary to kind of what his knee-jerk reaction was. Now I think he’s making some of these knee-jerk reactions.” 

Trump and Ryan maintained an at-times acrimonious relationship dating back to Trump’s presidential campaign.

The Wisconsin lawmaker said he would no longer appear with then-candidate Trump after a resurfaced “Access Hollywood” tape depicted Trump bragging about sexual assault.

After Trump took office, Ryan formed a working relationship with the president and often downplayed controversial tweets or statements coming from the White House.

The then-Speaker announced in April 2018 he would not seek reelection. While the GOP went on to lose dozens of House seats in the subsequent midterm elections, Trump offered praise for Ryan upon news of his retirement.

“Speaker Paul Ryan is a truly good man, and while he will not be seeking re-election, he will leave a legacy of achievement that nobody can question,” Trump tweeted in April 2018. “We are with you Paul!”