In a series of tweets on May 5, Sean Hannity endorsed Donald Trump and attacked House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), after Ryan told CNN's Jake Tapper he is “just not ready” to endorse presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump over the eventual Democratic nominee in the general election.
@seanhannity @realDonaldTrump So Sean do you endorse Donald now that he's the nominee ?
— Michael (@MJP1370) May 6, 2016
[Twitter, 5/5/16]
Yes I do. https://t.co/fz3kFY6qh7
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 6, 2016
[Twitter, 5/5/16]
Responding to Ryan's refusal to endorse Trump, Hannity tweeted “You have to be kidding me” and called Ryan's statement ”pathetic."
@SpeakerRyan You have to be kidding me on @realDonaldTrump. Establishment out to sabotage GOP nominee, yet they betrayed the base #Pathetic
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 5, 2016
[Twitter, 5/5/16]
Hannity continued to attack Ryan, writing “The Hell with what the voters think. Circular firing squad now led by @SpeakerRyan,” and additionally characterized National Review Online's criticism of Trump as “Elitist BS.”
Exactly. The Hell with what the voters think. Circular firing squad now led by @SpeakerRyan https://t.co/nXqrLYvQKk
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 6, 2016
[Twitter, 5/5/16]
How many NRO guys supported McCain, Dole? Oh real “Conservatives”. Elitist BS. https://t.co/quu0eJkosR
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) May 6, 2016
[Twitter, 5/5/16]
Hannity's criticism of House Speaker Paul Ryan highlights his reputation of attacking critics of Donald Trump while also being called out for his softball interviews of the Republican presidential nominee. Hannity has previously attacked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as a “pawn of the establishment” trying to take down Trump, and rebuked commentators who critiqued his contentious interview with Ted Cruz.