Asked directly whether Trump wants Ryan to resign, Priebus replied: “No he doesn’t.” | AP Photo Priebus: White House didn't direct judge’s attack on Ryan

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday that it was purely coincidental that a Fox News personality President Donald Trump had urged social media followers to watch Saturday had called for House Speaker Paul Ryan’s resignation.

On Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that followers should watch Judge Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News figure whom Trump has previously praised, speak during her Fox News show later in the day.


In her opening monologue Saturday evening, Pirro bluntly called for Ryan to resign.

“Paul Ryan needs to step down as House speaker,” she said. “The reason: He failed to deliver the votes on his health care bill.”

Speaking to Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday,” the White House chief of staff dismissed speculation that Pirro’s rebuke of Ryan had occurred in coordination with the Trump administration.

“First of all, I will go on record, we do love Judge Janine, and so does the president,” Priebus said. “I think it was more coincidental.”

He added: “I did not talk to the president about the tweet. I'm just telling the truth. There is no preplanning here.”

Asked directly whether Trump wants Ryan to resign, Priebus replied: “No he doesn’t.”

“He believes what he said in the Oval Office on Friday, he doesn't blame Paul Ryan. He thought Paul Ryan worked really hard, enjoys his relationship with Paul Ryan, thinks that Paul Ryan is a great speaker of the house. None of that has changed.”

The Trump administration has defended Ryan's handling of their failed health care overhaul bid, which the president praising the House speaker's actions Friday.