Mike Johnson

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says he believes there are some Democrats who could defeat President Donald Trump in next year's election.

“The person who defines that race is going to win the race. If this is about Donald Trump and his personality, he isn’t going to win it,” Ryan said Monday night during a speech in Vero Beach, Florida.

The speech was one of Ryan's first public appearances since retiring from Congress, according to a report from the Treasure Coast Palm newspaper, part of the USA Today Network.

Ryan, the Janesville Republican who served as speaker of the House from 2015 until January when he retired and was the 2012 Republican nominee for vice president, made the comments during a lecture in Vero Beach as part of Riverside Theatre's Distinguished Lecturer Series.

RELATED:Former House Speaker Paul Ryan focuses on policy, gridlock in Vero Beach lecture

Ryan, who did not seek re-election, and Trump have had a strained relationship.

Trump once savaged Ryan in an angry phone call, questioning his loyalty and telling him "Democrats have been kicking your a-- for decades," a book about the Trump White House says.

The Washington Post, which got an advance copy of “Team of Vipers" by Cliff Sims, detailed the angry call, which occurred after Ryan criticized Trump's handling of the deadly 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

RELATED:Donald Trump once asked Paul Ryan 'Why can't you be loyal to your president, Paul?', new book says

"Paul, do you know why Democrats have been kicking your a-- for decades? Because they know a little word called 'loyalty,' " Trump reportedly told Ryan. "Why do you think Nancy [Pelosi] has held on this long? Have you seen her? She’s a disaster. Every time she opens her mouth another Republican gets elected. But they stick with her."

He added, "Why can’t you be loyal to your president, Paul?"

Email: mike.johnson@jrn.com

Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing at jsonline.com/deal.