Paul Ryan deserts Trump campaign but won't formally drop endorsement

The most senior elected US Republican official has said he will not defend presidential nominee Donald Trump, after remarks he made about groping women led to outrage.

House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan vowed to focus on defending seats in Congress on Monday. He said he would no longer defend Trump or campaign with him. He urged them “to do what’s best for you” to save the party’s majority and avoid giving Hillary Clinton a blank check in the White House, though stressed he was not yet formally unendorsing the party’s official nominee.

Ryan’s office was forced to clarify his position: “The speaker is going to spend the next month focused entirely on protecting our congressional majorities,” his press secretary said.

Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2016

Ryan deserted Donald Trump after an aggressive debate attack against Hillary Clinton failed to quell mounting disgust over his attitude toward women.

Trump immediately fired back at Ryan on Twitter. “Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee.”

Ryan dragged his heels on endorsing Trump after the real estate developer clinched the Republican nomination in May and disinvited him from a joint appearance in Wisconsin on Saturday in the aftermath of the leaked remarks Trump made about women.

On Sunday, Trump described his words as "locker-room talk", and in a bitter televised debate, denied he had groped anyone.