Former President Trump has announced that he will not be signing a loyalty pledge to the Republican Party, casting doubt on his participation in future GOP debates.
In an interview with Newsmax, Trump expressed his reservations about the pledge, stating that it would not be worth his while.
"Why would I sign a pledge if there are people on there that I wouldn't have?" Trump questioned. He further elaborated, "I wouldn't have certain people as, you know, somebody that I endorse. So they want you to sign a pledge. I can name three or four people that I wouldn't support for President. So right there, there's a problem."
Trump specifically took issue with the criteria for entry into the Republican debate, particularly the low bar set in terms of polling percentage and national support. He argued that allowing unpopular candidates with minimal voter support to participate would only provide them with a platform to make disparaging remarks about him.
"You look at the debate, and they want you to debate, but you're debating it's not really fair somebody like Asa Hutchinson, who's polling at zero percent, will ask me nasty questions," Trump asserted. "Somebody like Chris Christie is polling at 1%, and he's going to ask me nasty questions and others, too."
To support his stance, Trump pointed to the decisions made by previous Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, who both opted to skip primary debates. He questioned the logic of participating in debates when he is already leading by a significant margin.
"Why would you do that when you're leading by so much?" Trump pondered. "Ronald Reagan didn't do it. Nixon didn't do it. Many people didn't do it."
However, Trump did express a willingness to consider the matter seriously, acknowledging his strong debating skills. He emphasized the importance of being a smart and intelligent President, suggesting that he would make a decision based on what he believes to be the smartest course of action.
While Trump's refusal to sign a loyalty pledge raises doubts about his participation in future GOP debates, his comments indicate that he is open to the possibility and will carefully evaluate the situation.
As the Republican Party prepares for the upcoming election cycle, the absence of a signed pledge from the former President could have significant implications for the dynamics of the debates and the overall race for the party's nomination.
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