Former New Jersey governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie predicted on Sunday that former President Donald Trump would ultimately sign the Republican National Committee‘s loyalty pledge required for candidates to participate in the primary debate.
“I would not be the least bit surprised if, sometime around Sunday or Monday of next week, that he signs the pledge and he shows up on the stage on Wednesday,” he told ABC This Week’s Jonathon Karl.
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With just 10 days until the debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Trump’s participation, or lack thereof, is still unknown. He has criticized the RNC for holding a debate, arguing that as the former president and double-digit front-runner, he shouldn’t need to debate.
However, he also hasn’t publicly ruled it out. The decision could very well come within days of the debate, as candidates are required to have signed the pledge 48 hours before the event.
GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie predicts that the RNC will keep Donald Trump off the debate stage if he choses not to sign the loyalty pledge.
“I think this is all kind of nonsensical theater. I’ve made that clear to the RNC as well.” https://t.co/OO6AOlQ1SC pic.twitter.com/8s1G2NPGm5
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 13, 2023
Several candidates have shared that they signed their respective copies of the pledge, but, according to Christie, he hasn’t received it yet. He said that the RNC is still verifying his donor count. “I’m sure I’ll be presented with the pledge at some point in the next week,” he added.
While Christie maintained that Trump would sign the pledge, the former president has suggested the opposite as recently as last week. “I wouldn’t sign the pledge,” Trump claimed. “Why would I sign a pledge if there are people on there that I wouldn’t have?”
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Trump has been encouraged to attend the debate by both the RNC and executives from Fox News, the channel streaming the event. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said it would be a mistake for him to miss the debate last month.
At a recent dinner with Trump, Fox News president Jay Wallace and CEO Suzanne Scott reportedly made their case to him as to why he should participate.
