House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday that President Donald Trump needed to "compartmentalize" the various issues he is facing and "focus on doing your job."
"We have issues with Syria and a budget to pass this week — and we have a lot to do," the Wisconsin Republican, who announced he was not seeking an eighth term, told Jake Tapper on CNN. "That is what I'm focused on."
Ryan, 48, who said he was retiring to spend more time with his family, said he and Trump "had a lot of friction in our relationship" but have learned to work together for a common agenda.
"We're very different people," Ryan told Tapper. "I'm from the upper Midwest. I'm not from New York.
"We're from a different generation," he said. "So, we have different styles.
"We had a lot of friction in our relationship.
"But we learned is we have a common agenda to agree on — and we want to get it done.
"It will make a difference in people's lives — and that is what we were elected to do.
"He got elected president, I got elected speaker," Ryan said.
"It is our job on behalf of the people we represent and the people of this nation to focus on their problems, get things done and make a big difference.
"That is what we're doing and that is what I'm proud about."
Ryan debunked former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's comments he was retiring because he did not believe Republicans would keep control of the House in November.
"I don't believe that," he said. "That's not true, because we have an excellent track record to run on."
Ryan, who was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's running mate in 2012, noted losing that race was one of his political disappointments.
"Losing the majority in '06," he told Tapper, when Democrats took over the House during former President George W. Bush's second term. "That was an ugly time when we lost the majority.
"Losing in 2012 election was a pretty tough moment for me," Ryan said. "I was on the ticket with Mitt.
"Those are tough moments."
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