Ryan tells House Republicans to distance themselves from Trump

House Speaker Paul Ryan has finally decided whether to rescind his endorsement of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after an explosive tape of Trump speaking explicitly about women broke late last week.

The Wisconsin Republican told his fellow party-members on a call Monday morning that he doesn't take back his endorsement, but his focus from now until Election Day will be keeping a majority in the House of Representatives.

Ryan told rank-and-file Republicans that "you all need to do what's best for you in your district" when making choices about whether to support Trump, Politico reported.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also reportedly told GOP lawmakers on the call to "take a deep breath" and focus on their own races.

The call suggests a break between House Republicans and the party's current standard-bearer, Trump, who argues that he's an outsider and therefore unpalatable to the political establishment.

Trump responded in a tweet Monday that Ryan should be focused on his own job, not "fighting" the nominee.

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