Ryan on Trump’s ‘Horseface’ tweet: There’s no place for that type of language
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Wednesday criticized President Trump for calling adult film-star Stormy Daniels “Horseface,” saying that there’s no place for that kind of language.
“There’s no place for that,” Ryan said on “CBS This Morning.” “There’s no place for that kind of language. He should not have said that.”
{mosads}His comments came just a day after Trump attacked Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, as a “horseface” in a tweet that referenced his recent court victory over her.
On Monday, a California federal judge tossed out Daniels’s lawsuit alleging defamation against Trump and ordered her to reimburse the president’s legal fees.
“’Federal Judge throws out Stormy Danials [sic] lawsuit versus Trump. Trump is entitled to full legal fees.’ @FoxNews Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas,” the president tweeted a day later. “She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!'”
The tweet drew notable backlash from both Democratic and GOP lawmakers. Daniels’s attorney, Michael Avenatti, called Trump a “disgusting misogynist and an embarrassment to the United States” in response.
Ryan has frequently criticized the president’s personal insults of other politicians and media figures when asked about the remarks. Last summer, he criticized Trump’s remarks about MSNBC personality Mika Brzezinski’s appearance as “inappropriate” while calling for a more civil tone in political discourse.
Ryan spoke to CBS in between campaign stops in upstate New York, and was joined in the interview by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). The Speaker said the GOP could attract more female voters by having people like Stefanik, 34, lead recruitment efforts.
“This is the future of the Republican Party. This is the future of our country. People like Elise,” Ryan said.
Stefanik, a leader of the centrist Tuesday Group who has sometimes clashed with the president, also slammed Trump’s “Horseface” remarks.
“I think it’s unacceptable. I disagree with the rhetoric. I’ve disagreed with the president’s rhetoric numerous times when it comes to how he addresses women,” the congresswoman said.
“But as I go door to door in my district right now, voters are really paying attention to, both male and female voters, the record of results. And keeping your promises. And growing the economy.”
The calls on Trump to rein in his tone have largely been ignored by the president, however, and they have not appeared to interfere greatly with the cooperation between House Republicans and Trump, who is a political power within the GOP.
–Updated at 10:08 a.m.