“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert has some advice for House Speaker Paul Ryan on presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump: “take it slow.”
Colbert did a segment on how Ryan just isn’t “ready” to endorse Trump on his CBS show, and the host told the Speaker he doesn’t have to rush.
Colbert explained how some Republicans have slowly gotten behind Trump in the race, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, but when it came to Ryan, Colbert said the Speaker “gave his party’s nominee his full, ‘Can I get back to you?’”
The host then cut to an interview of Ryan with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
“I’m not ready to do that yet,” Ryan said about endorsing Trump last week.
“I am not there right now. I hope to though, and want to,” he added.
Meanwhile, Trump and Ryan are set to get together in Washington.
“But before they do, Trump is sending in his most dynamic surrogate to win Paul Ryan over: Ben Carson,” Colbert said.
“Makes sense. Nobody can stay mad around Ben Carson. Or stay awake,” added the host.
Colbert then went on to give Ryan some advice about endorsing the candidate for the first time.
“Hey, Paul, it’s me, Steve. I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now to endorse Trump. And I just want to say, it’s OK to take it slow. Just because all the cool people like Ben Carson are doing it, doesn’t mean you have to,” said Colbert.
“You want the first time you endorse Donald Trump to be special,” he continued.
“I mean, look at Chris Christie. He rushed right in to endorse, and now everywhere he goes is a walk of shame. But don’t worry, Paul. When you decide the time is finally right for you to endorse Trump, it'll only last a minute,” Colbert added.
But the biggest piece of advice to Ryan was, “Just shut your eyes and think of Reagan.”
The host went on and said, “But you know what, until then, I know you’re a young, vital Speaker of the House,” Colbert added.
“You have needs. So until you’re completely ready, maybe it’s best if you just stay home and endorse yourself,” concluded the host.
However, Trump is not not fazed by the lack of support from Ryan.
“If we make a deal, that will be great,” Trump told Fox News when asked about the upcoming meeting with Ryan.
“And if we don’t, we will trudge forward like I’ve been doing and winning all the time,” added Trump.
