WASHINGTON – The first Republican primary debate is in two weeks, and candidates who have qualified to hit the stage must also sign a loyalty pledge that they will support the eventual Republican nominee. But the party’s leading candidate, former President Donald Trump, has refused to do so.
Trump said in a Newsmax interview on Wednesday that he will announce whether he will participate in the debate next week. But he made it clear he won’t support the loyalty pledge.
“Why would I sign a pledge?” Trump said. “There are people on there that I wouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have certain people as, you know, somebody that I’d endorse.”
The pledge says that candidates must “honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden” and not seek to run as an independent, write in a candidate or seek and accept the nomination of another party.
Here’s a closer look at which candidates who’ve qualified for the debate have signed the pledge to support the eventual nominee − even if it is Trump.
Nikki Haley
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed the “Beat Biden” pledge on Thursday, as reported first by Fox News, and shared an image of the document on her Instagram with the caption “Alright fellas, your turn.”
But more notably, Haley crossed out Biden’s name at the top and instead put “President Kamala Harris” − a move that comes amid her previous arguments that if Biden is re-elected, Harris will have to eventually step up due to his old age, as Politico reported.
Haley had indicated on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it was “absolutely irresponsible” for Trump and other candidates to not 100% commit to supporting the Republican nominee.
“There’s no room for personal vendettas in this battle to save our country,” Haley wrote.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was the first GOP candidate to sign the loyalty pledge, his spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told USA TODAY.
“Vivek is a first-time candidate who started with very low name ID, no political donors, and no pre-existing fundraising lists. If an outsider can clear the bar, politically experienced candidates should be able to as well,” McLaughlin told The Washington Post. “Vivek has achieved what no one has said is possible. We look forward to Vivek participating in his first debate.”
McLaughlin previously told USA TODAY that Ramaswamy would sign the pledge if other candidates do.
Ramaswamy has defended Trump on the campaign trial amid the former president’s indictments in various federal and state investigations but has made it clear he will take the presidency further than Trump could.
Chris Christie
It is not clear whether former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has signed the loyalty pledge. His campaign did not immediately respond to USA Today’s request for comment.
Christie called the loyalty pledge a “useless idea” on CNN’s “State of the Union” in June, but said he will do what is needed to be on the debate stage.
“It’s only in the era of Donald Trump that you need somebody to sign something on a pledge. So I think it’s a bad idea,” Christie said.
But in an ABC News interview, Christie said he will take the pledge “as seriously as Donald Trump did eight years ago,” when Trump signed the pledge but refused to agree to back the eventual nominee.
Tim Scott
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott signed the loyalty pledge on Thursday and shared an image of the document on X.
“I look forward to sharing my positive, optimistic message on the GOP Debate stage in Milwaukee,” Scott wrote. “Republicans are ready for conservative leadership with a backbone, one that will crush the cartels, stand up to China, and protect the America we all love.”
Scott had previously dodged questions on whether he would support the Republican nominee a few months back. But during an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Scott told host Brian Kilmeade he would “absolutely” support whoever becomes the Republican nominee even if it isn’t him.
“I will be the nominee and I certainly will support myself, but no matter who the nominee is, I’ve already committed to supporting our nominee without any question,” Scott said.
Doug Burgum
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s campaign told USA TODAY that he signed the loyalty pledge.
“He will be the outsider, governor and business leader on the debate stage,” spokesman Lance Trover said. “He got there by being different and talking about the economy, energy, and national security; and how we can improve every American life.”
One of the lower polling candidates to hit the stage, Burgum qualified for the debate by using several tactics. The most notable was him offering a $20 gift card to people who donated $1 to his presidential campaign.
Burgum previously told USA TODAY that he would support whoever wins the GOP nomination, including Trump, but that he is running to win.
Mike Pence
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who qualified for the debate on Monday, told Fox News that he will sign the loyalty pledge.
“I’m confident I’ll be able to support the Republican nominee, especially if it’s me,” Pence said.
When asked what he would do if Trump became the nominee, Pence denounced the former president’s false claim that Pence had the right to overturn the 2020 election.
It took Pence nine weeks to qualify for the debate. After Trump was indicted on four counts for allegedly overturning the 2020 election, Pence’s team started selling hats and T-shirts with the label “Too Honest” − a reference to an instance described in the indictment − as a way to bolster his presence in the crowded GOP field.
Pence has been critical of Trump on the campaign trial, particularly around Trump’s latest indictment saying that “anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again.”
Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘s campaign shared an image of his signed loyalty pledge on X with the caption “See you in Milwaukee!”
His campaign proclaimed that the DeSantis “is focused on uniting Republicans around a positive vision for beating Biden and reviving America, Donald Trump is focused on himself.”
DeSantis, who’s trailing behind Trump in the GOP primary polls, had previously dodged the question about whether he would support Trump if he became the Republican nominee during an event in June. He made clear on the “Wisconsin Right Now” radio show that he wouldn’t be Trump’s running mate because he said the vice presidency “doesn’t really have any authority.”
Both Trump and DeSantis have lashed out at each other on the campaign trial.
