Donald J. Trump is making “indefensible” and “inexcusable” and “racist” arguments that are “offensive” and “un-American.” He must be elected president of the United States.

This is the current position of many leaders of the Republican Party. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell made that case explicitly in an interview on Fox Business Network Tuesday.

“Well, he uttered a series of outrageous and unacceptable statements over the last week, and I addressed them at various points during the week. I think the less said about all that the better. What he ought to be working on is unifying the party and getting ready to try to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall,” said McConnell.

House speaker Paul Ryan echoed those sentiments during a press conference in Washington Tuesday morning. Ryan’s aides expressed frustration that questions about Trump distracted from Ryan’s press availability unveiling a new GOP anti-poverty project. But Ryan, in response to those questions, said Trump’s comments on U.S. district court judge Gonzalo Curiel was “the textbook definition of a racist” attack. But, he added, “I believe we are far better off…with his candidacy than Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.”