Trump endorses House Speaker Paul Ryan after refusing to back him

Donald Trump endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan on Friday in a move aimed at mending an intra-party rift that has put the Republican presidential nominee at odds with his party's highest-ranking elected official.

Trump's endorsement of Ryan came at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Ryan's home state, CNN reported.

"We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends and never stop working together toward victory. And very importantly, toward real change. So in our shared mission, to make America great again, I support and endorse our speaker of the House, Paul Ryan," Trump said on Friday night.

On Tuesday, Trump shocked party members when he refused to endorse Ryan, as well as Senators John McCain and Kelly Ayotte.

But he then endorsed the Arizona and New Hampshire senators in their primary races, CNN said.

However, it was not immediately clear that Ryan was keen to receive Trump's endorsement.

He repeatedly told Wisconsin radio stations in recent days that he was only seeking endorsements from the voters in his district.

After the endorsement, a Ryan aide said the speaker "appreciates the gesture and is going to continue to focus on earning the endorsement of the voters in Southern Wisconsin", CNN added.