"If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there can be no evasions and no games. They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry," House Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday. | AP Photo Ryan: Republican nominee must 'reject' bigotry

Speaker Paul Ryan offered a rebuke of Republican front-runner Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying that any candidate hoping to be the GOP's presidential nominee needs to "reject" bigotry.

The comments came after Trump failed to disavow the Ku Klux Klan and an endorsement by former KKK leader David Duke during a CNN interview this week. After answering a question on CNN about the white supremacist by saying he doesn't "know anything about David Duke, OK?," Trump later blamed a faulty earpiece for his remark.



The flap has created a major firestorm for the GOP as voters in 11 states prepare to cast primary ballots in Super Tuesday races.



Ryan, who didn't mention Trump by name, told reporters that "no evasions and no games" could be used by anyone seeking the Republican nomination when it comes to hateful comments and racism.



"If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there can be no evasions and no games. They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry. This party does not prey on people’s prejudices," the former vice presidential candidate said.



He added, "We appeal to their highest ideals. This is the party of Lincoln. We believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God and the government. This is fundamental."


Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered his own denouncement of racism and the KKK — though he too did not use Trump's name and refused to take follow-up questions. But McConnell did knock Trump's "seeming ambivalence" about getting support from Duke and the KKK.

"Let me make it clear: Senate Republicans condemn David Duke, the KKK, and racism. That is not the view of Republicans that have been elected to the United States Senate," McConnell told reporters. "Beyond what I just said I'm going to continue to avoid weighing in on the presidential contest at this point."

Ryan stopped short of pledging to oppose Trump if the Manhattan business mogul is nominated by the GOP. Republican lawmakers including Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse have said over the past week they would not support Trump under any circumstance.



Ryan said he plans "to support the nominee" when specifically asked about Trump.

In reaction to Ryan and McConnell's remarks, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid concluded: "Republicans say they will support a man who refuses to denounce the Ku Klux Klan. So until they withdraw their support, talk is really cheap."

Burgess Everett contributed to this report.