Trump calls Paul Ryan ‘lame duck failure’ in late-night Twitter rant after criticism in new book

Former House Speaker allegedly said US president did not know 'anything about government'

Donald Trump has attacked the former Republican House speaker Paul Ryan in a series of late-night tweets in which he accused him of being a “lame duck failure”.

The US president’s comments came shortly after the release of excerpts from a book in which Mr Ryan allegedly criticised Mr Trump for not knowing “anything about government”.

“Paul Ryan, the failed V.P. candidate & former Speaker of the House, whose record of achievement was atrocious (except during my first two years as President), ultimately became a long running lame duck failure, leaving his Party in the lurch both as a fundraiser & leader,” Mr Trump tweeted.

Mr Trump was referring to the 2012 presidential campaign when Mr Ryan stood as Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate.

“When Mitt chose Paul I told people that’s the end of that Presidential run. He quit Congress because he didn’t know how to Win,” Mr Trump added.

“They gave me standing O’s in the Great State of Wisconsin, & booed him off the stage. He promised me the Wall, & failed (happening anyway!).”

“He had the Majority & blew it away with his poor leadership and bad timing. Never knew how to go after the Dems like they go after us. Couldn’t get him out of Congress fast enough!”

Mr Ryan’s criticisms of the US president are featured in Politico reporter Tim Alberta’s new book American Carnage, which compiles stories from prominent Republican politicians on the current administration.

“I told myself I gotta have a relationship with this guy to help him get his mind right,” Mr Ryan told Mr Alberta in an excerpt of the book published by the Washington Post.

“Because, I’m telling you, he didn’t know anything about government ... I wanted to scold him all the time.”

The excerpt of the book also reveals that Mr Ryan saw retirement from the House of Representatives in 2018 as an “escape hatch”.

“We’ve gotten so numbed by it all,” Mr Ryan told Mr Alberta. “Not in government, but where we live our lives, we have a responsibility to try and rebuild.

“Don’t call a woman a ‘horse face.’ Don’t cheat on your wife. Don’t cheat on anything. Be a good person. Set a good example.”

Mr Trump launched a further attack against the former House Speaker at Labour Secretary Alex Acosta’s resignation on Friday.

“Paul Ryan was not a talent,” he told reporters. “He wasn't a leader.”

“For him to be going out and opening his mouth is pretty incredible. But maybe he gets paid.”