Dear Speaker Ryan – I am appealing to you out of a sense of duty, not to the GOP, but to the country. The time has come Mr. Speaker, to withdraw your support for Donald Trump.

I understand that your tepid support stems from the idea that Hillary Clinton would be much “worse” in office than Donald Trump and I can imagine there is pressure from the GOP to maintain this united front, no matter how fractured it is. Certainly Hillary Clinton will make a terrible President but it doesn’t mean you owe an endorsement and support to Donald Trump merely because is the GOP nominee.

People are starting to lose track of the number of times you or somebody else in the party, who have pledged to to support Trump, have had to answer for the number of absurd things Trump has said.

You said Trump’s statements about Judge Gonzalo Curiel were the “textbook definition of racist.” You’ve been forced to criticize his social media usage, including his re-tweeting of white nationalists and anti-Semitic imagery. You had to criticize Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort for his harsh comments about Governor John Kasich. Most recently, you’ve been forced to repudiate Trump’s comments about Khizr and Ghazala Khan after Mr. Khan’s remarks at the Democratic National Convention:

“America’s greatness is built on the principles of liberty and preserved by the men and women who wear the uniform to defend it. As I have said on numerous occasions, a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of these fundamental values. I reject it. “Many Muslim Americans have served valiantly in our military and made the ultimate sacrifice. Capt. Khan was one such brave example. His sacrifice — and that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan — should always be honored. Period.”

Then yesterday, in what was clearly a slap at you, Trump gave a shout-out on Twitter to your primary opponent:

Thanks to @pnehlen for your kind words, very much appreciated.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2016

This was an awful thing for Trump to do. You, Speaker Ryan, have been preaching GOP “unity” as a reason for supporting Trump, and as thanks he extends an olive branch to your primary opponent. Granted, Paul Nehlen is largely a joke and I think you’ll dispense of him easily in your primary contest next week. In addition, Donald Trump eats up any praise he receives and Nehlen has kissing Trump’s ring since he announced his primary campaign against you. That said, it was a disrespectful move on Trump’s part.

Mr. Speaker, do you think this is going to get any better? As the pressure of a general election campaign builds, Donald Trump’s bizarre behavior is only going to get worse. While seeking to maintain your majority in the House, Trump will be doing his best to drag everybody down with him.

Do you know what would be worse than a Hillary Clinton presidency? A Hillary Clinton presidency with a House and Senate controlled by Democrats.

Focus on your campaign Mr. Speaker. Focus on keeping control of the House. Drop your support for Donald Trump. You’ll be better off for it. So will the party.

More importantly, so will the country. 

Respectfully Yours,

Jay Caruso