Different Stance on Participating in Republican Presidential Debate
Former President Trump Refuses to Sign Pledge
Former President Donald J. Trump stated on Wednesday that he would not meet a requirement to participate in the first Republican presidential debate by refusing to sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee.
In an interview with the conservative outlet Newsmax, he explained, “I wouldn’t sign the pledge. Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have.”
While this decision suggests that he won’t be present at the debate on Aug. 23, he also mentioned that he would announce next week if he intends to take part. When asked for comment, the Republican National Committee, which establishes the rules, referred to the previous statements of its chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, defending the pledge and affirming that everyone will be held accountable to it.
Mr. Trump elaborated by saying, “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president,” avoiding specifying which candidates. “So right there, there’s a problem right there.”
Trump Questions the Worth of Participating in a Debate
During the same interview, Mr. Trump expressed his doubts about the value of participating in a debate considering his significant lead in the primary race. According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, he is ahead of his closest competitor, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, by more than 35 percentage points.
He questioned, “Why would you do that when you’re leading by so much?”
This isn’t the first time Mr. Trump has wavered on the pledge. He objected to signing the same loyalty pledge during his initial campaign eight years ago, eventually complying but later retracting his support.
This history emphasizes that the pledge is practically unenforceable. Party leaders can prevent a candidate from debating for refusing to sign, but they can’t compel someone who signs to actually endorse the eventual nominee next year.
One of Mr. Trump’s opponents, former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, stated that he would sign the pledge but would not support Mr. Trump if he becomes the nominee, noting, “I’m going to take the pledge just as seriously as Donald Trump took it in 2016,” in an interview with CNN.
Another contender, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, indicated that if he qualifies for the debate, which he hasn’t yet, he would sign the pledge under the assumption that Mr. Trump won’t be the nominee and therefore won’t need to be endorsed by him.
