Paul Ryan

==Speaker of the House==
=== 114th Congress ===
{{main|October 2015 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election}}
[[File:Speaker Ryan and Boehner.tif|thumb|Speaker Ryan (left) shakes hands with outgoing Speaker John Boehner (right)]]
[[File:King Salman.png|thumb|King [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]] speaks with Ryan in April 2016]]

On September 25, 2015, [[John Boehner]] formally announced to House Republicans his intention to resign from the speakership and the House.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/25/john-boehner-resigns-house-speaker/72793398/| title=Amid revolt, Boehner steps aside to avoid 'irreparable harm' to Congress| first=Deirdre |last=Shesgreen| others=Contributing: Cooper Allen, Paul Singer, Chrissie Thompson, David Jackson, Ray Locker and Erin Kelly| work=USA Today |date=September 25, 2015| access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> Among those interested in the post, [[Kevin McCarthy]]—who had wide support among Republicans, including Boehner, and Ryan, who was set to officially nominate him—was considered the presumptive favorite.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://time.com/4050341/john-boehner-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-house/|title=Meet Kevin McCarthy: The Frontrunner to Replace John Boehner|first=Jay |last=Newton-Small|magazine=Time|access-date=October 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYT Speaker">{{cite news| last1=Steinhauer| first1=Jennifer| last2=Herszenhorn| first2=David M.| title=Kevin McCarthy Drops Out of House Speaker Race, Creating G.O.P. Chaos|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/us/politics/house-speaker-vote.html|access-date=October 8, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 8, 2015}}</ref> His candidacy was opposed by conservative House Republicans of the [[Freedom Caucus]], and when it became clear that caucus members would not support his candidacy, McCarthy withdrew his name from consideration on October 8. This led many Republicans to turn to Ryan as a compromise candidate. The push included a plea from Boehner, who reportedly told Ryan that he was the only person who could unite the House Republicans at a time of turmoil.<ref name="WP Speaker">{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Robert|last2=Helderman|first2=Rosalind S.|last3=DeBonis|first3=Mike|title=House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy drops out of race for House speaker|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/08/house-majority-leader-kevin-mccarthy-drops-out-of-race-for-house-speaker|access-date=October 8, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 8, 2015}}</ref> Ryan released a statement that said, "While I am grateful for the encouragement I've received, I will not be a candidate."<ref name="USA Today Speaker">{{cite news|last1=Slack|first1=Donovan|title=Rep. Paul Ryan on House speaker's job: Thanks, but no thanks|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/08/rep-paul-ryan-wisconsin-house-speakers-job-thanks-but-no-thanks/73588750/|access-date=October 8, 2015|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 8, 2015}}</ref> The next day however, close aides of Ryan's confirmed that Ryan had re-evaluated the situation, and was considering the possibility of a run.<ref name="eyes on ryan">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/09/all-eyes-on-paul-ryan-as-house-gop-looks-to-regroup/|title=Wooing Chairman Ryan: Paul Ryan remains on sidelines as House GOP looks to regroup|first=Mike|last=DeBonis|date=October 9, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CNN Ryan">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/politics/house-speaker-race-paul-ryan|title=Paul Ryan considering running for speaker|work=CNN|access-date=October 10, 2015|date=October 9, 2015}}</ref>

Ryan confirmed on October 22, that he would seek the speakership after receiving the endorsements of two factions of House Republicans, including the conservative [[Freedom Caucus]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steinhauer|first1=Jennifer|title=Paul Ryan Will Seek to Become House Speaker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/23/us/politics/house-gop-factions-lining-up-for-paul-ryan-as-speaker.html|access-date=October 22, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=DeBonis|first1=Mike|title=Paul Ryan goes all in: 'I am ready and eager to be our speaker'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/22/paul-ryan-goes-all-in-i-am-ready-and-eager-to-be-our-speaker|access-date=October 22, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 22, 2015}}</ref> Ryan, upon confirming his bid for the speakership, stated, "I never thought I'd be speaker. But I pledged to you that if I could be a unifying figure, then I would serve – I would go all in. After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as one, united team. And I am ready and eager to be our speaker."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paul Ryan's winning pitch to House Republicans|date=October 22, 2015|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/politics/paul-ryan-house-speaker-announcement/index.html|work=CNN|access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref>

On October 29, Ryan was elected Speaker, receiving 236 votes, an [[Supermajority#Majority of the entire membership|absolute majority]] of the 435-member chamber. [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] received 184 votes, with 12 more going to others.<ref name=CRS-RL30857>{{cite web| last1=Heitshusen| first1=Valerie| last2=Beth| first2=Richard S.| title=Speakers of the House: Elections, 1913–2019| date=January 4, 2019| work=CRS Report for Congress| page=8| url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30857.pdf| publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]], the [[Library of Congress]]| location=Washington, D.C.| access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/30/us/politics/paul-ryan-set-to-take-over-as-speaker-hoping-to-manage-the-chaos.html|title=Paul Ryan Is Elected House Speaker, Hoping to Manage Chaos|first=Jennifer|last=Steinhauer|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=The New York Times}}</ref> After the vote Ryan delivered his first remarks as speaker-elect and was [[Oath of office#Federal executive and legislative branch oaths|sworn in]] by [[John Conyers]], the [[Dean of the United States House of Representatives|dean of the House]], becoming, at age {{age|1970|1|29|2015|10|29}}, the youngest person elected as speaker since [[James G. Blaine]] (age {{age|1830|1|31|1869|3|4}}) in 1869.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes| title=House Session| date=October 29, 2015| url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?328947-1/paul-ryan-elected-speaker-house-year-ago| type=Liner notes| publisher=[[C-SPAN]]| access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Paul Ryan is so young it's like he was elected speaker in 1850|author=Philip Bump|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/29/paul-ryan-is-so-young-its-like-he-was-elected-speaker-in-1850/|date=October 29, 2015}}</ref> Later, he named lobbyist [[John David Hoppe]] as his [[chief of staff]].<ref name=washingtonpost-ryan-names-hoppe>{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Robert|title=Paul Ryan taps GOP power broker David Hoppe for top job|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/25/paul-ryan-taps-lobbyist-david-hoppe-for-top-job/|access-date=October 28, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name=thinkprogress-ryan-hoppe>{{cite news|last1=Israel|first1=Josh|title=Speaker Of The House Front-Runner Appoints Corporate Lobbyist As Chief-Of-Staff|url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/10/26/3715989/paul-ryan-chief-lobbyist-revolving-door/|access-date=October 28, 2015|agency=[[Think Progress]]|date=October 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807003308/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/10/26/3715989/paul-ryan-chief-lobbyist-revolving-door/|archive-date=August 7, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ryan became the leader of the House Republicans upon becoming Speaker. However, by tradition, he largely stopped taking part in debate and made only a few votes from the floor. He was also not a member of any committees.

=== 2016 presidential election ===
[[File:Paul Ryan (12987458923).jpg|thumb|left|280px|Ryan speaking at [[Conservative Political Action Conference|CPAC]] in March 2014.]]
After [[Donald Trump]] became the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2016 presidential election on May 4, 2016, Ryan was hesitant to endorse him, stating on May 5 that he was "not ready".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steinhauer|first1=Jennifer|author-link1= Jennifer Steinhauer |last2=Burns |first2=Alexander|title=Paul Ryan Says He Is 'Not Ready' to Endorse Donald Trump|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 5, 2016|access-date=May 8, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/us/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump.html}}</ref> Ryan and Trump met in private on May 12, releasing a joint statement afterward, acknowledging their differences but stating "we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-meeting |title=Trump, Ryan tout unity in wake of meeting|date=May 12, 2016|work=CNN}}</ref> On June 2, Ryan announced his support for Trump in an op-ed in ''The Janesville Gazette''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/02/politics/paul-ryan-endorses-donald-trump|title=Paul Ryan endorses Donald Trump|date=June 2, 2016|work=CNN}}</ref>

The following day, June 3, amid Trump's criticism of Judge [[Gonzalo P. Curiel]], Ryan said Trump's critique "just was out of left field for my mind," and voiced disagreement with him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/03/politics/clinton-statement-on-trump-university-judge|title=Ryan, Clinton slam Trump over racial criticism of judge|date=June 3, 2016|work=CNN}}</ref> On June 7, Ryan disavowed Trump's comments about Curiel because he believed they were "the textbook definition of a racist comment". Nevertheless, Ryan continued to endorse Trump, believing that more Republican policies will be enacted under Donald Trump than presumptive Democratic nominee [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Deirdre Walsh|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|title=Ryan: Trump's 'textbook definition of a racist comment'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/07/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-racist-comment/index.html|access-date=June 7, 2016|work=CNN}}</ref> On June 15, after [[Kevin McCarthy]] stated during a conversation among Republicans, "There's two people I think [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]] pays: [[Dana Rohrabacher|Rohrabacher]] and Trump. Swear to God", Ryan interjected, "No leaks. This is how we know we're a real family here."<ref name=WP170517>{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house-majority-leader-to-colleagues-in-2016-i-think-putin-pays-trump/2017/05/17/515f6f8a-3aff-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html|title=House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: "'I think Putin pays' Trump"|first=Adam|last=Entous|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date= May 17, 2017}}</ref>

On July 5, after FBI Director [[James Comey]] advocated against pressing charges against Clinton for her email scandal, Ryan said Comey's decision "defies explanation" and stated that "[d]eclining to prosecute Secretary Clinton for recklessly mishandling and transmitting national security information will set a terrible precedent."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/05/republican-reaction-hillary-clinton-fbi-emails/86708602/|title=Paul Ryan, GOP officials blast Clinton over FBI email findings|first=Eliza|last=Collins|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 5, 2016}}</ref>

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Ryan suggested that candidate Trump should release his tax returns.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ryan suggests Trump should release tax returns |work=POLITICO |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/paul-ryan-trump-tax-returns-228219 |access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Trump shaking hands with Paul Ryan.jpg|thumb|Ryan shaking hands with Donald Trump prior to his address to a [[Donald Trump speech to joint session of Congress, February 2017|joint session of Congress]] on February 28, 2017]]
In October 2016, following the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood controversy|Donald Trump ''Access Hollywood'' controversy]], Ryan disinvited Trump from a scheduled campaign rally,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-pence-too-is-out-at-wisconsin-event-1475944325-htmlstory.html|title=Pence, too, is out at Wisconsin event with Paul Ryan|first=Julie|last=Westfall|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 8, 2016|access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref> and announced that he would no longer defend or support Trump's presidential campaign but would focus instead on Congressional races. He also freed down-ticket congress members to use their own judgment about Trump, saying "you all need to do what's best for you and your district."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/10/politics/paul-ryan-said-he-wont-defend-donald-trump/index.html|title=Paul Ryan said he won't defend Donald Trump|author=Manu Raju, Deirdre Walsh and Kevin Liptak|date=October 10, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> Trump then went on to attack Ryan, accusing him and other "disloyal" Republicans of deliberately undermining his candidacy as part of "a whole sinister deal".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-idUSKCN12C2I5|title=Trump intensifies attacks on Ryan with four weeks left until Election Day|date=October 12, 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/hill-gop-surrogates-advise-trump-to-stop-ryan-attacks-229671|title=Trump's Hill surrogates: Stop attacking Ryan|date=October 12, 2016|work=Politico|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref>

=== 115th Congress ===
[[File:Donald Trump with Paul Ryan and Mike Pence 2017-12-20.jpg|thumb|Ryan with Donald Trump and Vice President [[Mike Pence]], December 2017]]
Two months after the [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections|2016 elections]], Ryan was re-elected Speaker of the House on January 3, 2017, the opening day of the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]]. He received 239 votes to House Democratic Leader Pelosi's 189 votes (with 5 more going to others).<ref>{{cite web| title=Final Vote Results For Roll Call 2: Election of the Speaker (115th Congress)| url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll002.xml| website=clerk.house.gov| date=January 3, 2017| access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref>

On February 7, 2017, Ryan told reporters a replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be introduced "this year" amid speculation Donald Trump would not act toward doing so until the following year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/ryan-obamacare-replacement/|title=Ryan insists Obamacare replacement will pass this year|first=Deirde|last=Walsh|date=February 7, 2017|work=CNN}}</ref> On March 9, Ryan gave a 30-minute lecture explaining the proposed replacement for the ACA, titled the [[American Health Care Act]] (AHCA).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/09/politics/paul-ryans-ted-talk-obamacare-repeal/index.html|title=Paul Ryan's TED talk ignores conservative split on GOP health care bill|first=Deirdre|last=Walsh|work=CNN}}</ref> On March 30, Ryan said that he did not intend to work with Democrats on repealing and replacing the ACA, reasoning their involvement would lead to "government running health care."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/30/paul-ryan-rules-out-working-democrats-health-care/|title=Speaker Ryan rules out working with Democrats on health care|first=Tom Jr.|last=Howell|newspaper=Washington Times|date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> On April 4, Ryan confirmed renewed discussions of an ACA replacement, but warned that a replacement was in the "conceptual" stages of its development.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/4/ryan-revived-health-care-talks-conceptual-stage|title=Speaker Ryan: Revived health care talks still in 'conceptual stage'|date=April 4, 2017|newspaper=Washington Times}}</ref> On May 4, the House narrowly voted for the AHCA to repeal the ACA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1628|title=H.R.1628 – American Health Care Act of 2017|date=May 4, 2017|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> On May 9, Ryan said that "a month or two" would pass before the Senate would pass its own ACA repeal and replacement legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/09/paul-ryan-senate-pass-obamacare-repeal-238148|title=Ryan predicts Senate will pass Obamacare repeal in 'a month or two'|first=Louis|last=Nelson|publisher=Politico|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> The Senate created several of its own versions of the act but was unable to pass any of them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/john-mccains-no-vote-sinks-republicans-skinny-repeal-plan/535209/|title=John McCain's No Vote Sinks Republicans' 'Skinny Repeal' Plan – The Atlantic|last=Berman|first=Russell|date=July 28, 2017|work=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2017, Ryan said Congress' goal was "calendared 2017 for tax reform" and reported progress was being made in doing so.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/18/paul-ryan-trump-tax-reform-2017-238559|title=Ryan: Tax reform is happening in 2017|first=Rachael|last=Bade|date=May 18, 2017|publisher=Politico}}</ref> In December 2017, both houses of Congress passed a $1.5 trillion tax bill called the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], which Trump signed into law on December 22.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/22/trump-signs-gop-tax-plan-short-term-government-funding-bill.html |title= Trump signs GOP tax plan, short-term government funding bill |last=Wilkie |first= Christina |date= December 22, 2017 |work=[[CNBC]] |access-date= April 11, 2018}}</ref> The tax law is projected to add an additional $1.5 trillion to the national debt over a decade, but the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation also estimated that the GDP level on average would be 0.7% higher during the same period.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/tory/2018/04/11/paul-ryan-legacy-record-budget-red-ink|title=Paul Ryan's Legacy of Red Ink|work=POLITICO Magazine|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name="JCT_Econ1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jct.gov/publications.html?func=startdown&id=5055|title=JCX-69-17|website=www.jct.gov}}</ref> In the weeks leading up to his retirement announcement, Ryan also championed a $1.3 trillion government-wide spending bill that boosted military spending significantly.<ref name=":1" /> ''Politico'' noted that Ryan "clamored for austerity when he's been in the minority, trashing Democrats as profligate budget-busters, but he's happily busted budgets in the majority."<ref name=":4" />

In June 2017, Ryan expressed support for strong sanctions on Russia in response to Russian interference in the 2016 elections and its annexation of the Crimea, saying that Russia's actions were "unacceptable".<ref name="signs">{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-moscow-calls-it-trade-war-idUSKBN1AI1Y4 |title= Trump signs Russia sanctions bill, Moscow calls it 'trade war' |date= August 2, 2017 |work= [[Reuters]] |access-date= April 11, 2018}}</ref> He urged Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]] and Congressional oversight committees to "do their jobs so that we can get to the bottom of all of this."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/12/paul-ryan-russian-meddling-election-absolutely-unacceptable/471428001/ |title= Paul Ryan: Russian meddling in U.S. election is 'absolutely unacceptable' |first= Erin |last=Kelly |newspaper=USA Today |date= July 12, 2017}}</ref> In July Congress passed a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and giving Congress the power to overrule White House attempts to roll back sanctions. Both houses passed the bill with veto-proof majorities (98–2 in the Senate, 419–3 in the House), so Trump reluctantly signed it into law on August 2, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/donald-trump-russia-sanctions-bill/index.html|title=Trump signs bill approving new sanctions against Russia|date=August 3, 2017|work=CNN|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref><ref name = signs/>

Ryan provided political cover for [[Devin Nunes]], chair of the House Intelligence Committee, who many characterized as a source of the dysfunction in the committee as it investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/fiscal-hawk-ryan-leaves-behind-growing-deficits-and-a-changed-gop/2018/04/11/827b68d4-3d93-11e8-a7d1-e4efec6389f0_story.html|title=Fiscal hawk Ryan leaves behind growing deficits and a changed GOP|last=Werner|first=Erica|date=April 11, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 12, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Nunes accused the Obama administration of improperly "unmasking" the identities of Trump associates (which led Nunes' temporary recusal from the committee's Russia investigation), accused the FBI of misconduct, leaked the text messages of Senator [[Mark Warner]] (in an effort to misleadingly suggest impropriety on his behalf), and threatened to impeach FBI Director Christopher Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/11/paul-ryan-retire-devin-nunes-217848|title=Now You're Free, Paul Ryan. Fire Devin Nunes.|work=POLITICO Magazine|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/11/paul-ryan-do-not-fire-mueller-rosenstein-515215|title=Ryan says Mueller, Rosenstein 'should be allowed to do their jobs' despite Trump threats|work=POLITICO|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> The House Intelligence Committee was one of few so-called "select" committees in Congress, which meant that it was up to Ryan to decide the chairman of the committee.<ref name=":5" />

Despite having favored comprehensive immigration earlier in his congressional career, Speaker Ryan prevented immigration legislation from being advanced in the House.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/us/politics/paul-ryan-speaker.html|title=Ryan Leaves Behind a Party That in Many Ways Left Him Behind|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=April 11, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 12, 2018|last2=Kaplan|first2=Thomas|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> When President Trump ended [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] (DACA) – which granted temporary stay for undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as minors – Ryan said DACA recipients should "rest easy" because Congress would solve the problem for them, but Ryan backed no bills to protect DACA recipients.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/4/11/17224240/paul-ryan-leaving-primary-reelection|title=Paul Ryan lost the fight for the Republican Party's soul|work=Vox|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

An article in ''The Washington Post'' described Ryan's relationship with President Trump as "friendly, if occasionally uneasy," adding that "Ryan did little to check the president or encourage oversight of his administration."<ref name=":1" /> Ryan supported Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, and did not support legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.<ref name=":1" /> Ryan said that legislation to protect Mueller's investigation was not "necessary".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/paul-ryan-not-necessary-bring-bill-protect-mueller-n866086?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma|title=Paul Ryan: Not 'necessary' to bring up bill to protect Mueller|work=NBC News|access-date=April 15, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 11, 2018, Ryan announced that he would not run for re-election in November, saying, "I like to think I've done my part, my little part in history to set us on a better course." In response, Trump tweeted, "Speaker Paul Ryan is a truly good man, and while he will not be seeking re-election, he will leave a legacy of achievement that nobody can question."<ref name="retire">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/11/politics/paul-ryan-retirement-house-speaker/index.html|title=House Speaker Paul Ryan won't seek re-election|author1=Phil Mattingly |author2=Maegan Vazquez|work=CNN|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2018, Ryan led the House in passing the [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act]], which partially repealed the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act|Dodd-Frank Act]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/business/congress-passes-dodd-frank-rollback-for-smaller-banks.html|title=Congress Approves First Big Dodd-Frank Rollback|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 22, 2018|last1=Rappeport|first1=Alan}}</ref> It was signed into law by President Trump a few days later.

After Republicans lost control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections, Ryan suggested that there were irregularities about the election results in California. Ryan said that California's election system was "bizarre", "defies logic" and that "there are a lot of races there we should have won." After Ryan's remarks were reported on, Ryan's spokesperson said "The Speaker did not and does not dispute the results".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/418880-ryan-casts-doubt-on-bizarre-california-election-results|title=Ryan casts doubt on 'bizarre' California election results|last=Swanson|first=Ian|date=November 29, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=November 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

=== Assessment of Speaker tenure ===
[[File:Speaker-Paul-Ryan-Portrait.jpg|250px|thumb| Official portrait by Leslie W. Bowman, 2023]]

Following Ryan's retirement announcement, an article in ''The Washington Post'' stated that Ryan was "leav[ing] behind a legacy of dramatically expanded government spending and immense deficits, a GOP president unchecked, a broken immigration system, and a party that's fast abandoning the free-trade principles that he himself championed."<ref name=":1" /> According to the Associated Press, Ryan "achieved one of his career goals: rewriting the tax code"; however, "on his other defining aim—balancing the budget and cutting back benefit programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—Ryan has utterly failed".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/the-associated-press-speaker-ryan-will-leave-behind-new-tax-code-busted-budget.html|title=Speaker Ryan will leave behind new tax code, busted budget|last=Taylor|first=Andrew|date=April 11, 2018|publisher=CNBC|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

===Constituent services===
In fiscal year 2008, Ryan garnered $5.4 million in congressional [[Earmark (politics)|earmarks]], including $3.28 million for [[Transit bus|bus service]] in Wisconsin, $1.38 million for the [[Ice Age Trail]], and $735,000 for the Janesville transit system.<ref name="Bender"/> In 2009, he successfully advocated with the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] for [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|stimulus funds]] for energy initiatives in his district.<ref name=Bender/>

Other home district projects he has supported include a runway extension at the [[Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport]], an environmental study of the [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] Harbor, firefighting equipment for Janesville, road projects in Wisconsin, and commuter rail and streetcar projects in Kenosha. In 2008, Ryan pledged to stop seeking earmarks. Prior to that he had sought earmarks less often than other representatives.<ref name=Markon/> [[Taxpayers for Common Sense]] records show no earmarks supported by Ryan for fiscal years 2009 and 2010.<ref name=Bender/> In 2012, Ryan supported a request for $3.8 million from the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]] for a new transit center in Janesville,<ref name=Markon/> which city officials received in July.<ref name="Auto2A-45"/>

Ryan was an active member of a task force established by Wisconsin governor [[Jim Doyle]] that tried unsuccessfully to persuade [[General Motors]] to keep its assembly plant in Janesville open. He made personal contact with GM executives to try to convince them to save or retool the plant, offering GM hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded incentives.<ref name=Deluca/> Following the closure of factories in Janesville and Kenosha, constituents expressed dissatisfaction with Ryan's voting history.<ref name="Abercrombie"/> During the 2011 Congressional summer break, Ryan held [[town hall meeting]]s by telephone with constituents. The only public meetings Ryan attended in his district required an admission fee of at least $15.<ref name="Fischer"/><ref name="Epstein"/>{{undue weight inline|date=June 2019}}

In August 2011, constituents in Kenosha and [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] protested when Ryan would not meet with them about economic and employment issues, after weeks of emailed requests from them. His Kenosha office locked its doors and filed a complaint with the police, who told the protesters that they were not allowed in Ryan's office.<ref name=Abercrombie/><ref name=Fischer/><ref name=Stein/>

Ryan maintained a mobile office to serve constituents in outlying areas.<ref name="Auto2A-46"/>