The Republican National Committee (RNC) is asking every GOP candidate to sign a loyalty pledge, agreeing to support the Republican Party nominee and not run as a third party candidate. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump signed the pledge Thursday afternoon, hours after fellow GOP candidate Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) signed it.
“He’s been extremely fair,” Trump said of the Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus who met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York Thursday.
“I’ve wanted fairness. … I just wanted fairness from the Republican Party,” Trump said at a press conference following the meeting.
Trump announced:
Frankly, I felt the absolute best way to win and beat the Democrats, and very easily, I think, beat the Democrats, no matter who it will be … the best way for the Republicans to win is if I win the nomination and go directly against whoever they happen to put up. And for that reason, I have signed the pledge.
The crowd viewing the press conference cheered after Trump’s announcement.
Trump said he would not rip up the pledge at a later date.
“I’ll be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it stands–and we will go out, and we will fight hard, and we will win,” Trump said.
He added that he was honored Priebus came up to Trump Tower to meet with him.
Fellow GOP presidential candidate Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) also signed the pledge early Thursday morning on Fox News’ Happening Now.
Prior to the press conference with Trump’s announcement, Fox News anchor Bret Baier speculated Trump would sign the pledge to get on several state ballots, noting that South Carolina would require a similar pledge to get a candidate’s name on the voting ballot.