In an announcement that comes as little surprise to many, 45th President Donald Trump told Eric Bolling during a Wednesday interview on Newsmax that he will not sign an RNC pledge to support the Republican nominee, should he lose the primary. The RNC made clear in recent releases that this is a pre-requisite to participate in the first GOP primary debate.
Speaking with Bolling, Trump told the host that he is considering whether or not to attend the debate at all and would make an announcement at some point next week with his decision.
“I wouldn’t sign the pledge,” Trump told Bolling. “Why would I sign a pledge if there are people on there that I wouldn’t have?”
He explained to Bolling that offhand he could name off "three or four" of his fellow Republican candidates that he would not support for president. In particular, he levied criticism at Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ), and former Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AR). Conversely, he offered praise toward Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) who stated she wouldn't run because no one is going to beat Trump.
In regards to attending the debate, Trump added that he hasn't "totally ruled it out," noting “I’d like to do it,” even quipping: “I’ve actually gotten very good marks on debating talents. But you want to be, you know, they want a smart president. They want somebody that’s going to be smart. So we have to do the smart thing.”
According to The Hill, Fox News executives have been urging Trump to attend with several prominent Fox figures making arguments on air for why he should. Neil Cavuto opined, "Thinking of the big debate coming up, and I’m not saying this to sell the debate, it’s a great debate and would be great if the president and all the candidates could make it, but if you’re Donald Trump and this is all everyone is talking about and you own all the oxygen in the room, wouldn’t you want to be in that room?”
Piers Morgan took a more adversarial tone, seeming to dare Trump to join the fray. He told Trump, "Show us what you’re made of,” adding, "If you’re watching, Donald, come on.”
Bret Baier, Fox's chief political anchor, perhaps reading the proverbial room better, noted that the network would “be prepared either way,” recalling 2016 when the then-presidential hopeful blew off the Iowa debate.
“Believe it or not, up until the last minute, we had two stacks of questions. One with Donald Trump and one without," Baier said. "So I think we may be in that same boat.”
- Article Source:
DC Enquirer
- Photo: Pool / Getty Images
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