PORTLAND (AP) — Updated 4:15 p.m.: Republican Donald Trump is praising House Speaker Paul Ryan, whom he has thus far declined to endorse in his primary race.
Trump told supporters at a rally in Maine, that “Paul Ryan’s a good guy.”
Trump said in an interview this week that he’s “just not quite there yet” when it comes to endorsing Ryan, who has not shied away from criticizing the Republican nominee on a number of issues.
The mention of Ryan drew some boos from the crowd.
Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, on Wednesday delivered a full-throated endorsement of Ryan on Wednesday, marking a break from the nominee,
Trump said Pence called him to ask if he’d mind the endorsement. “I said go ahead and do it, 100 percent,” Trump said.
He also dismissed reports that the endorsement suggested there was “a fissure” between the two.
Updated 4 p.m.: Protesters holding pocket U.S. Constitutions are interrupting Donald Trump’s rally in Portland, Maine.
At least three groups of protesters have stood up to voice their opposition to the Republican presidential nominee.
As one group was led out by private security officials, a Trump supporter tried to grab at the documents.
The protesters appeared to be referencing Khizr Khan, a vocal Trump critic whose son was killed in the Iraq war. Khan delivered an emotional appeal at the Democratic National Convention, holding up a copy of the Constitution as he challenged Trump.
The protesters were met by boos and chants of “USA!” from Trump supporters.
Trump’s rallies used to be marked by constant protesters, but they have died down in recent weeks.
Trump responded by saying, that he “sort of missed my protesters.”
“We need law and order,” he said.
Updated 3:50 p.m.: Republican Donald Trump is again referencing footage of Iranians off-loading $400 million in cash from a plane that his campaign says he didn’t see.
Trump repeated at a rally in Maine that he saw footage distributed by the Iranians showing the cash being delivered to Tehran in January.
“They want to embarrass our president” he said.
But Trump’s campaign said earlier Wednesday that Trump was simply referring to old footage shown “on all major broadcasts this morning” when he mentioned the video. That footage was not taken in Iran and did not show Iranians offloading money.
The Washington Post said the footage Trump saw was grainy nighttime video of people getting off a small plane, holding bags. “Geneva,January 17,” the footage is clearly labeled.
Trump apparently mistakenly assumed that this footage depicted the cash transfer.
Updated 3:35 p.m.: Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine says he has an answer for reporters who keep asking whether he still supports his party’s nominee, Donald Trump.
“The answer’s very simple: Yes. More than ever,” he said at a mid-day Trump rally in his state.
LePage is introducing Trump in Portland, where he is campaigning Thursday.
LePage said the media has been “very tough” on Trump since the beginning of the race, but is giving rival Hillary Clinton a “free pass.”
“They attack him every single day,” he said. “They love to sensationalize a few comments and then they make a big deal about it.”
Trump’s supporters responded to his mention of Clinton by chanting, “Lock her up!”
LePage labeled her the “queen of corruption.”
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