Former President Donald Trump said he would not sign a pledge to support the GOP nominee if he loses the Republican primary.
During a Wednesday night Newsmax appearance, Trump discussed the upcoming Republican primary with host Eric Bolling. The Newsmax host noted Trump’s recent dinner with Fox News executives encouraging the former President to participate in the debate — to which Trump said he would announce his decision next week.
“I have a problem with the debate for another reason: I wouldn’t sign the pledge,” Trump told Bolling, referencing the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) “Beat Biden Pledge” to support the GOP nominee, should he not secure the Republican nomination, and vow to not run independent or as a write-in candidate in the Presidential election.
“Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have,” Trump said. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president.”
“So right there, there’s a problem right there.”
BREAKING: Donald Trump says he will not sign the RNC pledge to support the 2024 Republican nominee if he loses the GOP presidential primary pic.twitter.com/DS13byrsPW
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) August 10, 2023
The former President did not specify which candidate he would not endorse, though he criticized Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson during his interview with Bolling.
On Wednesday, DeSantis’ team shared an image of the Florida governor’s signed “Beat Biden Pledge.”
“I [candidate name], affirm that I agree to appear in only Primary and General Election debates that have been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee,” reads the pledge. “I acknowledge and accept that if I fail to sign this pledge or if I participate in any debate that has not been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee, I will not be eligible to participate in any further Republican National Committee sanctioned events.”
The pledge further asserts the candidate will support the GOP nominee in the 2024 Republican nomination should the candidate in question not secure the slot.
“I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden,” it reads.
See you in Milwaukee! pic.twitter.com/zFeGjrtLph
— Team DeSantis (@TeamDeSantis) August 9, 2023
“I further pledge that I will not seek to run as independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.”
RNC chair Ronna McDaniel previously commented on the pledge during an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace.
“Everybody has to sign the Beat Biden Pledge, everybody, it’s across the board, the rules aren’t changing, we’ve been very vocal with them,” McDaniel told CNN’s Chris Wallace. “It’s not just the pledge, not just a piece of paper. Intent is going to be part of it, too. I think the debate committee is going to meet, and they don’t want somebody saying, ‘I’m blatantly lying.’ You have to say I’m going to support the nominee whomever the voters choose.”
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