Republican road to the White House
Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan have said they are "totally committed" to party unity in a statement following their meeting.
The two are trying to find common ground after Mr Ryan said he could not endorse the presumptive Republican nominee.He has said the businessman lacked conservative principles.
"We had a great conversation this morning," the two wrote in a joint statement.
"While we were honest about our few differences, we recognise that there are also many important areas of common ground."
They said they would be having "additional discussions" but think they can unify the party and win the election.
At a press conference following the meeting, Mr Ryan said he was "very encouraged" by what he heard from Mr Trump.
Mr Trump arrived for the meeting at the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters in Washington amid protesters brandishing placards.
Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
Paul Ryan sounds like a man trying to make peace with his shotgun marriage. Sure, the circumstances are unfortunate, but maybe life together won't be that bad.The House speaker, who once condemned Trump's proposed Muslim ban as "not conservatism", now says there are "core principles" of conservatism that tie them together. They both love the Constitution, it seems, and they're all about the separation of powers between the branches of government.
Beyond that? Who knows. Mr Ryan declined to go into details during his Thursday press conference, instead talking about the processes being started, seeds being planted and differences being bridged.
It was not the endorsement, full-throated or otherwise, that Mr Trump desires, but it was a first step toward the reconciliation of a party that desperately wants to win back the White House in November.
If Mr Ryan eventually makes peace with what he called a "whole new wing" of the Republican Party that Mr Trump represents, this desire for power - for a prize that has been denied Republicans for two straight presidential elections - will be the driving force behind it.
Afterwards, RNC chairman Reince Priebus, who mediated the talks in his office, said it was a success.
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Trump says his Muslim ban is needed to protect the US He said it was "not what this party stands for and more importantly it's not what this country stands for".
But on Wednesday, Mr Trump appeared to soften, saying it was "just a suggestion".
Mr Ryan, who ran as 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's vice president, clashes with Mr Trump on many issues, including religious freedom and trade.
Mr Trump has said he would be fine without Mr Ryan's support Many urged him to run for president, but he has frequently denied that he would.
More and more Republicans are throwing their support behind Mr Trump, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Mr Trump's rise to the top of the Republican party, of which he has not been a member historically, has been unprecedented.
A recent Gallup Poll shows that two in three Republican-leaning voters view Mr Trump favourably.
But protests have plagued appearances by Mr Trump, with particular focus on his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Top Republicans divided over Trump
Supporting:- New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte
- Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson
- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
- Former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
- Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
- Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
- Former Texas Governor Rick Perry
- Florida Senator Marco Rubio
- House Speaker Paul Ryan
- Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
- Former President George H W Bush
- Former President George W Bush
- Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
- Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse
- Texas Senator Ted Cruz
- Ohio Governor John Kasich
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