OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Republican National Committee will ask all GOP presidential contenders to sign a so-called “loyalty pledge” requiring them to support the eventual nominee in order to appear on debate stages, according to the party’s leader.
On Sunday, Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told CNN’s Dana Bash that it’s a “no-brainer” to demand that all GOP candidates support the eventual nominee, no matter who it is.
The pledge emphasizes the need for party unity and underscores the importance of ensuring that the eventual GOP nominee has a strong base of support within the party. The RNC is taking this step to ensure that Republicans are not divided and that the party is unified in its effort to win the next presidential election, she noted.
“Will candidates be required to sign a pledge saying they will support whoever becomes the nominee in order to get on that debate stage?” Bash asked.
“We haven’t put the criteria out but I expect a pledge will be part of it. It was part of 2016, I think it’s kind of a no-brainer, right? If you’re going to be on the Republican National Committee Debate stage, asking voters to support you, you should say ‘I’m going to support the voters and who they choose as the nominee.’ As RNC Chair, if I said I wouldn’t support the Republican nominee, I would be removed from office,” McDaniel said.
“Anybody getting on the Republican National Committee debate stage should be able to say ‘I will support the will of the voters and the eventual nominee of our party,’” she continued.
WATCH:
So far, former President Donald Trump, his UN ambassador Nikki Haley, and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have declared they are running for the GOP nomination. A spokesperson for Trump, who made a similar pledge in 2016, said the former president would do so again, but with a caveat.
“President Trump will support the Republican nominee because it will be him,” the representative said, according to the Western Journal.
Previously, Trump appeared to offer conditional support for the party’s eventual nominee if it wasn’t him.
“It would have to depend on who the nominee was,” he stated, according to the outlet.
Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), with whom Trump has regularly feuded, delivered some remarks to reporters after Haley formally announced her bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
McConnell, indicating he would support whomever the eventual nominee is, told reporters after being asked about Haley’s candidacy, “Well, what I think is we’re going to have is a vigorous campaign.”
In case you were wondering if Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will ever grow a pair with regard to Donald Trump, here he is telling reporters he'll support whomever the Republican nominee for president is in 2024. pic.twitter.com/2921XuNxgL
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 14, 2023
As for Haley, she initially pledged later that year she would not run for president if Trump declared, but she has obviously gone back on that vow.
“The Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again. It’s time for a new generation of leadership to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose,” said Haley in a campaign video.
“It’s time for a new generation of leadership – to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose,” Haley said in her campaign announcement. “Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight general elections. That has to change,” she added.
“Some people look at America and see vulnerability. The socialist left sees an opportunity to rewrite history. China and Russia are on the march. They all think we can be bullied. Kicked around. You should know this about me: I don’t put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels,” Haley went on to say.
McConnell and other Republican leaders took a lot of heat following a less-than-expected showing during the November midterms. The party barely managed to retake the House and actually lost a seat in the Senate, handing full control to Democrats.
