Donald Trump certainly did not set off nor orchestrate the current intra-party squabbling turned bloodbath that is the GOP civil war, however, the celebrity businessman and Republican presidential frontrunner appears to be the only one left reveling in the destruction.
The blustery billionaire who has thrown all decorum and civility out of the window while on the campaign trail took his circus to Mr. GOP Serious Man Paul Ryan's backyard on Tuesday and promptly took to turning the people of Janesville, Wisconsin against their hometown hero.
Trump had earlier began his first day of campaigning after more than a week off in another part of Wisconsin, railing against the state's Republican governor and his one-time presidential rival, Scott Walker. After Walker announced his incredibly delayed endorsement of Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Trump lashed out, using the opportunity to attack Walker for Wisconsin's budget deficit and state debt.
“There’s a $2.2 billion deficit and the schools were going begging and everything was going begging because he didn’t want to raise taxes ’cause he was going to run for president,” Trump said. “So instead of raising taxes, he cut back on schools, he cut back on highways, he cut back on a lot of things.”
"He's not doing a great job," Trump said of Walker. "But your governor has convinced you (Wisconsin) doesn't have problems."
In Janesville, Trump wasn't even attempting to go after the Republican Speaker of the House when he asked the crowd, “Your new speaker, how do you like Paul Ryan, how you like him?”
A booming chorus of boos gave Trump his resounding answer.
“Wow. I was told, ‘Be nice to Paul Ryan,’” Trump said.
"Boo," the crowd continued.
“Really?” a stunned Trump asked, to continued boos. “I am very surprised at this statement,” Trump admitted.
“Are you all Republicans?" he asked. "Are you mostly conservatives?"
Of course, Trump shouldn't have feigned too much shock as threaten the House Speaker earlier this month, saying, "I’m sure I’m going to get along great with him. And if I don’t? He’s gonna have to pay a big price."
For his part, Speaker Ryan delivered a much publicized speech in Washington, D.C., chastising the "ugliness" that had befallen the Republican primary and suggesting it was “scaring” voters. Although Ryan never specifically mentioned Trump by name, Trump scheduled a stop in Ryan's hometown shortly after the speech.
Watch the exact moment when Paul Ryan's hometown turns on him here. It comes at the 27:06 mark during his full address:
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