US House Speaker Paul Ryan to retire, not seek re-election
Paul Ryan
Politico reported in December that Ryan told confidants he would like to retire after the 2018 congressional elections.
US House Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, has told confidants he will announce soon that he will not seek re-electionin November, Axios news site reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter.
Ryan's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, news agency Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, Ryan's departure have circulated for months.
Politico reported in December that Ryan told confidants he would like to retire after the 2018 congressional elections.
The Axios report cites unidentified friends as saying Ryan, a longtime champion of tax reform, was ready to step down after passing a tax reform bill.
The legislation was President Donald Trump's first major legislative victory since he took office in January 2017 despite being helped by Republican control of Congress.
Meanwhile, President Trump lauded the achievement of the House Speaker and said that Ryan leaves a ''legacy of achievement'' that nobody can question.