Trump, Ryan and other GOP leaders to work out differences in high-stakes meeting?

'He's very much a work in progress as a candidate.'

Despite their differences, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Republican nominee Donald Trump met Thursday morning at the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters on Capitol Hill.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - In a joint statement following the meeting, Trump and Ryan explained: "While we were honest about our few differences, we recognize that there are also many important areas of common ground. We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal."

Following the meet, Ryan told reporters, "This is our first meeting, I was very encouraged with this meeting, but this is a process. It takes some time, you don't put it together in 45 minutes."

On his way to the runway to head back to New York, Trump Tweeted, "Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things worked out really well!"

Trump later told Fox News' Sean Hannity, "I thought it was a great meeting. I don't mind going through a little bit of a slow process. We're getting there."

Spectators, lawmakers, media, and even a Trump impersonator armed with a bullhorn and bags featuring dollar signs, stood outside the RNC headquarters Thursday morning.

Demonstrators held signs reading, "Stop the hate," "R.I.P G.O.P," and "Trump is a Racist" joined the fray, each of whom wanted to be seen.

When Trump arrived, he was escorted into the building from a back entrance and was delivered to a meeting with not only Ryan, but also top Republican officials.

According to NCB News, Ryan told reporters on Wednesday that the meeting would focus on the reconstruction of a fractured republican party.

"What we are trying to do is to be as constructive as possible, to have a real unification," Ryan explained. "To pretend we're unified without actually unifying, then we go into the fall at half strength. This election is too important to go into an election at half strength."

Thursday morning GOP Rep. Tom Cole admitted he held high hopes for Trump and Ryan to find common ideological ground.

"This is a chance for them to get to know each other, find where they have points in common," he stated. "I think those exist."

Though Cole believes the two will learn to work together, he admitted Trump's "unpredictability" makes him "very much a work in progress as a candidate."

Meanwhile, Republicans of all levels have expressed concerns with Trump's criticizing of the free trade agreements, immigration legislation and some U.S. military commitments.

Ryan has openly admitted his reluctance to endorse such a nontraditional, often boisterous candidate - but perhaps the Thursday morning meeting will conclude with mutual political respect.

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