Paul Ryan says that his best shot at a presidential run would've been in 2016
Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash in an interview that aired on Sunday, Ryan said that if he wanted to run for president, he would've done so this election cycle.
"If I really wanted to be president, I would have run in this cycle for the presidency. I had the chance an opportunity to do so. I chose not to do that," Ryan said. "So I'm perfectly happy and content with this decision."
Ryan's White House ambitiouns have been a point of speculation for years as he has remained on the sidelines in leadership shakeups in the House Republican caucus.
Many analysts and commentators note that the newly-elected speaker has avoided climbing the ladder in the House partially because of his desire to spend time with his young children, but also as a way to avoid battles that could hurt him should he make a run for the White House.
In a separate CNN interview conducted earlier this week, former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that Ryan chose to take on the role of speaker despite his likely desire to be president.
"I think he would've liked to be president but I think he's figured out God had another plan for him," Boehner said.
Though he declared early on that he would not run in 2016, there was some push to get Ryan into the race. Former Massachusett's Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who chose Ryan as his vice presidential running mate in 2012, had reportedly nudged Ryan to make a 2016 bid before the congressman decided that he wouldn't seek the presidency.