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Donald Trump endorses high-ranking Republicans, ends 4-day standoff

Donald Trump endorsed high-ranking Republicans in their primary races on Friday, ending a four-day standoff between the Republican presidential candidate and some of the party's most powerful members.

Trump throws support to House Speaker Paul Ryan, senators John McCain and Kelly Ayotte

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had previously declined to endorse three Republicans in their upcoming primaries. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

Donald Trump endorsed high-ranking Republicans in their primary races on Friday, ending a four-day standoff between the Republican presidential candidate and some of the party's most powerful members.

Trump threw his support behind House Speaker Paul Ryan, Arizona Senator John McCain and New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte.

"I need a Republican Senate and a House to accomplish all of the changes that we have to make," Trump said during a rally in Green Bay, in northern Wisconsin.

"We will have disagreements, but we will disagree as friends," Trump said.

He had previously declined to endorse the three, who have disapproved of Trump's criticism of the Muslim American parents of an army captain killed in Iraq.

McCain is locked in a three-way race ahead of an Aug. 30 primary. The primary for Ryan's House seat is next week and Ayotte's primary is next month. All three have said they would support Trump as the presidential nominee.

However, all three chided Trump for engaging in a flap with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of U.S. army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart after his death in 2004.

From the podium of the Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan criticized Trump's position on Muslims and asked whether Trump had read the Constitution.

Paul Ryan, whose primary for his House seat is next week, has chided Trump for engaging in a flap with the family of a dead Muslim U.S. soldier. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)

With files from Reuters