Associated Press
Donald Trump this week said he won’t sign a pledge to support the Republican nominee if he loses the GOP presidential primary, flouting a requirement for appearing in the first debate later this month.
“Why would I sign it?” Trump said in an interview on the conservative cable network Newsmax. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem.”
He declined to name the candidates he wouldn’t support, saying “there’s no reason to insult them.” But he singled out South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy for praise, saying they “have been very nice.”
Trump said he will announce next week whether he’ll participate in the debate, scheduled for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, but his refusal to sign the pledge suggests he plans to make good on his threat to skip it. Trump has repeatedly questioned why he should debate his rivals given his substantial polling lead and has suggested he might hold a competing event instead.
On Wednesday, he pushed back against former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s taunts, telling Newsmax’s Eric Bolling that there’s no upside to participating in a debate when he’s already leading by a wide margin.
“Its not a question of guts. It’s a question of intelligence,” Trump said.
Eight candidates say they have met qualifications to be on stage in Milwaukee, with former Vice President Mike Pence announcing this week he had secured enough donors. Candidates need to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.
They also must sign a statement pledging not to participate in any debates not sanctioned by the party, including the general election debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, and to support the winner of the Republican primary.
“I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination of President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden,” the pledge says, according to a copy posted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. Candidates also must pledge not to run as an independent, write-in candidate or third-party nominee.
The pledge has been criticized by some candidates including Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has been fiercely critical of Trump.
Only former Texas Rep. Will Hurd has said definitively that he will not sign the 2024 pledge, though he has not met the polling and fundraising thresholds required to attend. He said he won’t support Trump, who has been indicted three times, if he becomes the eventual nominee.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
9 comments
PeterH
August 10, 2023 at 1:59 pm
These “pledges” are absolutely ridiculous! The individual are policy teams who invented this grift should be fired! This side show is meant to guarantee that after a bitter Klown Show Primary that all those candidates thrown under the Republican Klown bus will crawl out and campaign for and fund the winning candidate they despise and vehemently disagree with. More Republican stupidity!
Republicans are America’s biggest problem!
Vote all Republicans out of office.
REGISTER TO VOTE AND VOTE!
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
August 11, 2023 at 11:01 am
Good mornting America,
The Donald is right about everyone other than America’s Govornor Ron Desantis.
As you all are aware of every “Also Running” Republican other than Desantis is a “Cant Win”@$$ Clown.
So relax America, The Donald has assured me, Earl Pitts American, that when the time is right The Donald will live up to his agreement to throw all his supporters behind Ron Desantis.
Thank you America,
EPA The Big Voice On The Right
My Take
August 10, 2023 at 2:04 pm
As if the verminous Trump has any loyalty to pledge?
Dont Say FLA
August 10, 2023 at 2:04 pm
How silly this GOP guy won’t sign a GOP pledge. He lies constantly, so why not just lie then sign? Or is it sign then lie?
OH I know why he won’t just sign a lie: It’s because he does not want to debate with Chris Christie on the stage. No sign = no debate, therefore Trump takes a moral stance (LOFL) and refuses to lie. TRUMP. REFUSES TO LIE. LOLOLOL
Trump is such a thing he likes to grab women by.
PeterH
August 10, 2023 at 2:25 pm
“ He lies constantly, so why not just lie then sign?”
😂😂😂
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
August 11, 2023 at 11:07 am
Spot on truth and wisdom my beloved offspring “Dont Say”,
It would be a hoot to watch Chris Christy in process of ripping The Donald a new “one”.
Love Dad
SteveHC
August 10, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Trump is already at the top ofthe heap so he HAS NO REASON to agree to ANYTHING (at this point in time) related to debate participation and no matter what else he might say about it THAT is a primary reason why he (at this point in time) is refusing to take this “pledge”. *Sometimes* he’s not quite as dumb as he might look…
GOP Chairwoman Ronna
August 10, 2023 at 9:20 pm
Why would GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel give Trump a pass on the debates like this?
“If you don’t sign a loyalty pledge, you cannot debate.”
Instant out for Trump, while claiming he’s not allowed to debate, and that is “SO UNFAIR.” He is being treated “SO UNFAIRLY.” Because Ronna gave him a hall pass to skip the debates which he didn’t want do in the first place because that requires actual work.
What a Mo’ Ronna is. Give Trump an inch and Trump be like “wow that’s a LOT”
Sonja Fitch
August 21, 2023 at 3:30 am
Wake up Republicans! Trump ain’t no Republican! Trump is for trump just like always! How much longer folks are you going to “BUY’ Trump bs? Are you WOKE yet ?
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