In a statement blasted out by his campaign after Trump's comments were published, Nehlen accused the House speaker of "working against his party’s nominee and the American people" and said his "repeated betrayals of the GOP nominee is beneath the dignity of the speakers’ office and is morally disqualifying." In an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday, Trump refused to endorse Ryan, who faces a primary challenge against Paul Nehlen in Wisconsin next Tuesday, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is squaring off against a tea party-backed doctor and former state senator, Kelli Ward. Trump praised Ryan’s underdog opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running “a very good campaign” and said of Ryan: “I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country. We need very, very strong leadership. I look at our veterans, how badly they’ve been treated, the suicides, the tremendously bad treatment.” 
 
 As for Ayotte, Trump said, “If she’s not involved with me, I’m just not involved with that. Trump said that Ryan has sought his endorsement but that he is only “giving it very serious consideration.” Responding to Trump, Ryan spokesman Zack Roday said in a statement: “Neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump’s endorsement. And we are confident in a victory next week regardless.” 
 
 Trump made his comments during a wide-ranging 50-minute interview Tuesday afternoon over lunch at the Trump National Golf Club in Northern Virginia. Ryan said he "rejects" any religious test for entering the country — a clear jab at one of Trump's evolving immigration proposals — and that "Captain Khan was one such brave example" of Muslim-Americans who have "served valiantly in our military and made the ultimate sacrifice." Ryan, who has been critical of Trump throughout his campaign, shied away from condemning him by name after he attacked a Gold Star family in response to remarks Khizr Khan made last week at the Democratic National Convention. But Nehlen, who has referred to Ryan as "Lyin' Ryan" (reminiscent of Trump's own attacks of his presidential primary opponents), defended Trump's response to Khan, saying it was Khan who had "attacked, ridiculed and attempted to humiliate Mr. Trump and his positions on critical national security issues." "I’ve never been a big fan of John McCain and I just hate the way our veterans have been treated by John and other people," Trump said. I’m not quite there yet.” 
 
 Trump’s snub of the Wisconsin Republican — he told the Post that Ryan sought his endorsement — comes a day after he thanked Nehlen via Twitter, blasting out the lesser-known candidate’s handle to his 10.5 million followers.  Trump said he’s “never been there” on backing McCain “because I’ve always felt that he should have done a much better job for the vets.” | Getty Trump declines to endorse Ryan or McCain 
 
 Donald Trump is “not quite there yet” when it comes to endorsing Paul Ryan, the Republican presidential nominee said Tuesday, echoing the House speaker’s rhetoric before he ultimately endorsed Trump as the GOP nominee earlier this year. “They’re not being treated fairly.” 
 
 The real estate mogul also attacked Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), who has also been critical of his remarks on the Khan family, for not supporting his campaign. You tell me.” 
 
 He continued: “I don’t know Kelly Ayotte. But some persuasive forces — including GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and conservative pundit Ann Coulter — are expressing support for his Wisconsin primary opponent Paul Nehlen. I have a nice lead in New Hampshire and she doesn’t." We need loyal people in this country. We need fighters in this country. We don’t need weak people. But Kelly Ayotte has given me zero support, and I’m doing great in New Hampshire.” 
 
 Ayotte, whose aides said she still plans to vote for Trump, responded with a statement: “I call it like I see it, and I’m always going to stand up for our military families and what’s best for the people of New Hampshire.” 
 
 Trump went on to say that if he loses the election, he will start two or three “anti-certain candidate” super PACs, which he vowed to fund with $10 million apiece, to savage Republicans or Democrats of his choosing in future elections. And former vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov.
– In what the Washington Post calls an "extraordinary breach of political decorum," Donald Trump isn't endorsing Paul Ryan in his Wisconsin primary battle. Trump tells the Post he's "not quite there yet" when it comes to backing Ryan. Trump may be getting his revenge on Ryan, who last spring said he was "not there right now" about endorsing Trump before finally giving in. It's also possible Trump's decision not to endorse Ryan has to do with Ryan not supporting Trump's continued attacks on the Khans. Meanwhile, Ryan's primary opponent, Paul Nehlen, defended Trump's comments this week, saying the Khans "attacked, ridiculed, and attempted to humiliate Trump," according to NPR. Trump then publicly complimented Nehlen's "very good campaign." “I like Paul, but these are horrible times for our country,” Trump tells the Post. “We need very strong leadership." Trump claims Ryan sought his endorsement, a claim denied by a Ryan spokesperson. Regardless, Ryan is expected to easily defeat Nehlen, Politico reports. Trump also refused to endorse John McCain in his primary campaign, claiming McCain hasn't done right by the country's veterans. In the same Post interview, Trump called out New Hampshire Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte. It should be noted that both Ayotte and McCain denounced Trump's attacks on the Khans. Ayotte says she still plans to vote for Trump.