Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan's re-election bid Wednesday, a day after running mate Donald Trump declined to do so.
In a phone interview with Fox News, Pence backed the Wisconsin congressman in his bid against a primary challenger. The Indiana governor said Trump and Ryan would "do great things" if elected.
"I spoke to Donald Trump this morning about my support for Paul Ryan, our longtime friendship. He strongly encouraged me to endorse Paul Ryan in next Tuesday's primary. I'm pleased to do it," Pence told Fox.
Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday that he was not ready to endorse Ryan or Sen. John McCain of Arizona in their primary bids. Ryan endorsed Trump months ago, but the billionaire developer said he was "not quite there yet" on endorsing the Wisconsin Republican.
Trump's comments to the newspaper marked just one strange turn in a bizarre few days for his presidential campaign. He said Ryan asked for his endorsement, a statement Ryan's office later denied.
Trump previously praised Ryan's opponent Paul Nehlen, who came to Trump's defense in a public spat with the parents of a Muslim-American soldier killed in combat. The Khan family criticized Trump at the Democratic National Convention and in media appearances following the event.