Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump escalated his war with his own party’s leadership Tuesday by refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul D. Ryan or Sen. John McCain from Arizona two of the GOP’s highest-ranking elected officials, in their primary campaigns. As challenges in their states' primary they face contests ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. Both Ryan and McCain had criticized Trump's feud with the family of Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for bravery after his death.

Trump has had a running dispute with Khizr and Ghazala Khan since they took the stage at last week's Democratic convention to cite their son's sacrifice and criticize Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States.

Trump said Ryan had sought his endorsement, but that as of now he is only "giving it very serious consideration."Ryan's campaign office quickly responded that "neither Speaker Ryan nor anyone on his team has ever asked for Donald Trump's endorsement."

Trump praised Ryan’s underdog opponent, Paul Nehlen, for running “a very good campaign” and said of Ryan: “We need very strong leadership. I’m not quite there yet.”

It is the latest rift in a party already frayed by internal dissent over its standard bearer, seen in stark relief at the convention where McCain was among high-level party members who essentially snubbed Trump by choosing not to attend.

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