On Thursday morning’s episode of Squawk Box, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan found himself on the receiving end of CNBC anchor Joe Kernen’s latest jabs. Ryan, a key architect of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), was discussing the law’s impending expiration in 2025 and the Republican Party’s strategy for extending its provisions.
CNBC's Joe Kernen hits Paul Ryan for not supporting Trump more staunchly: "Now you're calling for unity. Well, that's nice. Would've been nice before the election. The other thing I thought was funny was when you said, 'Hey look, I want Trump to succeed.' That sounds like a… pic.twitter.com/RVz64JXMJa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 16, 2025
A Lighthearted Exchange with Serious Undertones
As Ryan outlined the steps Republicans—who currently control both the House and Senate—must take, Kernen interrupted with a grin, ready to deliver some banter.
“You know I love you, and I like to needle you—,” Kernen began, only for Ryan to interject with a knowing look, “Here comes the ‘but.’”
Sure enough, Kernen quipped: “You know I love you, so now you’re calling for unity?”
When Ryan confirmed his call for unity, Kernen leaned in: “Well, that’s nice. It would’ve been nice before the election!” He then pivoted to a more pointed observation: “The other thing I thought was funny that you said was when you said, ‘Hey, look, I want Trump to succeed.’ You know who that sounds like? It sounds like a Democrat!”
Ryan shot back, “Democrats sound like that?”
Kernen clarified: “Well, of course, you want Trump to succeed. You’re a Republican!”
Ryan Defends His Conservative Credentials
The former speaker was quick to try to reassert his political identity. “Look, I’m a conservative Republican,” he said. “I’m a free-market, limited-government, constitutional—”
Kernen nodded in agreement but doubled down on his point. “I know. But you know what I’m saying—that’s who I hear saying it.”
Ryan acknowledged the nuance, admitting, “My brand of conservatism doesn’t always overlap with Trump populism.”
Kernen, always quick on his feet, responded with a reminder of the binary nature of politics during the election: “It was binary all along! A vote not for Trump was a vote for Kamala Harris! Can you imagine?”
Balancing Conservatism and Unity
Steering the conversation back to policy, Ryan explained: “A lot of this agenda—my kind of conservatism and Trump populism—overlaps. We disagree on trade and things like that. I’m not a big fan of tariffs on our allies. But when it comes to tax policy, border policy and deregulation, it’s all very good for America.”
Kernen seized the moment to channel Reagan’s famous 80/20 rule: “Don’t sacrifice the good for the perfect, don’t sacrifice the good for the perfect.”
While avoiding further discussion of Trump, Ryan emphasized the importance of solidarity within the Republican Party. “I think it’s important that Republicans stay unified,” he concluded.
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WITH PEOPLE LIKE RYAN SPINNING HIS FORM OF WHAT HE CALLS CONSERVATISM, THE REPUBLICANS WILL NEVER HAVE UNITY!!
I find it interesting that the Reagan philosophies and “brand” of conservatism is becoming more prevalent. As always, America is a 2 steps forward, 1 step back nation. We are trying to find our conservative roots again to lead the country into the next turning (as described in the book “The Fourth Turning”).
Ryan is a closet democrat.
If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, its a duck!
Patrick…you ALWAYS have a good article. I love reading your columns!! It’s nice to hear from Paul Ryan. I DO like hime!.
He sounds like a democrat because he is more of a liberal democrat than the republican he pretended to be.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN ???????????
WHY are you surprised ??????????????????????
Paul Ryan I S a Democrat! Just that he wants an “R” in front of his name!
Paul Ryan is the Republicrat version of Schiff, only Ryan is the self centered pencil necked geek of the so called moderate republicrats. Not even close to being a real Republican are you Paul?
Ryan is a small minded,large ego,twerp! He is afflicted with being a legend in his own mind.