House Speaker Paul Ryan discusses his meeting Thursday with presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
MAJOR GARRETT, CBS NEWS: When you say [you had] few problems [finding common ground with Mr. Trump] in this joint statement, aren't you papering over these rather sizable differences and how you have tried to define it--
SPEAKER PAUL RYAN: I represent a wing of the conservative party you could say. He is bringing a whole wing to it, new voters we've never had for decades, that's a positive thing.
The point though is, can we agree on the common core principles that unite all of us?
We will have policy disputes, all republicans -- Mitt Romney and I didn't agree on everything in 2012. We will have policy disputes. I'm not interested in litigating the past. I'm interested in going forward and seeing where that common ground exists to make sure we can have a unified Republican Party that yes, there will be different Republicans that have different views on various policy ideas.
The question is, can we unify on common core principles that make our party -- by the way the principles that built this country. I'm very encouraged that the answer to that question is yes...
QUESTION: You just mentioned the millions of new voters that he's bringing in, new people. I was wondering how you actually interpret his success? Is it going to mean the real fundamental realignment of the party because of these new voters that he's bringing in, how do you interpret his success?
PAUL RYAN: It is really kind of unparalleled, I think. He has gotten more votes than any Republican primary nominee in the history of our country. This isn't even over yet. He hasn't even gone to California yet.
It's really a remarkable achievement.
So the question is, and this is what we think we can be a party to helping, how do we unify it all. This is a big and growing movement. How do we keep adding and adding voters while not subtracting voters.
To me that means a positive vision based on core principles, taking those principles applying them to problems facing our country today, and offering people positive solutions. Speaking to people where they are in life, and addressing anxieties and showing we have a better plan. Here's what we agree on:
A Hillary Clinton presidency would be a disaster for this country. It's effectively a third Obama term. The other thing we all know, most Americans do not like where this country is headed. Seven out of ten Americans think America is on the wrong track.
We agree with that.
So the question is, can we unify around our common principles to offer the country a compelling and clear choice in an agenda going forward so that the men and women of this nation get a real and honest choice about how to fix this country and get us on a better track. I'm very encouraged that we can put that together.
Ryan's full statement:
