Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.) said Thursday he's "just not ready" to support Donald Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE as the GOP presidential nominee.

Ryan made his stunning comments in an interview on CNN. He clarified that he cannot support or endorse the New York billionaire businessman right now.

“To be perfectly candid with you … I’m just not ready to do that at this point. I’m not there right now,” Ryan said on CNN’s “The Lead.”

“I hope to though and I want to. But what is required is to unify this party. And the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee. ...

“At this point I’m not ready to jump in, but I hope we can get there."

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The remarks from Ryan underscore the divide within the GOP over Trump's impending nomination, and leave the Republican Party's presumptive nominee without the endorsement of the party's highest office holder.

But he repeatedly said that he was not ready to back Trump, who Ryan has previously criticized.

“This is the party of Lincoln, of Reagan, of Jack Kemp. And we don’t always nominate a Lincoln or a Reagan every four years,” Ryan said. “But we hope that our nominee aspires to be Lincoln and Reaganesque, that that person advances the principles of our party and appeals to a wide, vast majority of Americans.”

Other party heavyweights have failed to rally around Trump, as some Republicans insist they will never support the billionaire. Former Sen. Bob Dole (Kansas) as of now is the only former GOP presidential nominee planning to go to the Republican convention this summer.

The comments from Ryan immediately stoked speculation that the Speaker himself is interested in a future run for the White House.

Ryan, who will be the chairman of the GOP convention, last month gave a speech to say he had no interest in being drafted as a presidential candidate. Many Republicans in the House have touted him as a strong candidate who could emerge at a brokered convention.

The Speaker has criticized Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and also criticized violence that has broken out at Trump events.

During an election-night party in March, Trump issued a threat to Ryan after the Speaker chided the front-runner for failing to forcefully disavow white supremacist David Duke.

“I’m going to get along great with Congress, Okay? Paul Ryan, I don’t know him well, but 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,” Trump said at the time. Asked Thursday if he was concerned about Trump’s threats, Ryan shook his head and said he wasn’t worried at all. The two men are at odds on a host of policy issues, including trade. Asked Thursday if he was concerned about Trump’s threats, Ryan shook his head and said he wasn’t worried at all.The two men are at odds on a host of policy issues, including trade.

On Wednesday, Trump also criticized any efforts by House Republicans to provide a debt relief plan for Puerto Rico, an issue Ryan has championed.