Story highlights Paul Ryan has endorsed his party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump

Ryan said his fellow GOP leaders listen to their conscious as to whether to follow suit

Washington (CNN) Speaker Paul Ryan said House Republicans should not betray their conscience when it comes to backing their party's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience. Of course I wouldn't do that," he told NBC News' Chuck Todd in an upcoming episode of "Meet the Press" airing Sunday.

"Look, believe me, Chuck. I get that this is a very strange situation. He's a very unique nominee," Ryan added. "But I feel as a responsibility institutionally as the Speaker of the House that I should not be leading some chasm in the middle of our party. Because you know what I know that'll do? That'll definitely knock us out of the White House."

Ryan and Trump have had a somewhat strained relationship since Trump became the party's presumptive nominee. The Wisconsin Republican has publicly criticized the billionaire businessman several times, though he formally endorsed him earlier this month.

Ryan is scheduled to preside over the GOP convention in Cleveland next month. Some Trump opponents have sought to push the idea that delegates could cite the "conscience clause" to get out of supporting the real estate mogul in order to prevent him from becoming the party's official nominee.

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