Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday accused rival Donald Trump of disrespecting the primary process over the former president’s refusal to sign a pledge to support the eventual 2024 Republican nominee.
“I mean you can’t, on the one hand, say that the country’s going in such a bad direction, which we all believe, and then, on the other hand, say you’re just going to take your ball and go home,” DeSantis, 44, told reporters in Iowa.
The Sunshine State governor turned in his signed loyalty oath to the Republican National Committee earlier this week, a document that Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has required candidates to ink if they wish to be on stage for the first GOP debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee.
“I’ve voted Republican my whole life. And, you know, even though, you know, I’m confident we’ll be the nominee, at the end of the day, you know, you respect the judgment of how this works out, and you don’t take your ball and go home,” DeSantis, 44, said.
“It’s not just about you. It’s about a larger mission that we have to accomplish for Americans.”
Trump, 77, vowed not to sign the so-called “Beat Biden Pledge” during an interview with Newsmax host Eric Bolling earlier this week, noting there are a number of candidates in the GOP field that he’d never endorse for president.
“I wouldn’t sign the pledge. Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have certain people as, you know, somebody that I’d endorse,” Trump said.
“I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem,” he added.
During the same interview, the former president revealed that he would announce his decision on whether or not to participate in the first debate next week.
DeSantis will be joined on stage later this month by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, 51, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), 57, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, 67, who have all signed the oath and have met the RNC’s polling and fundraising requirements.
Former Vice President Mike Pence indicated on Friday that he also intends to sign the pledge.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 60, has panned the RNC’s pledge requirement but has signaled he’ll sign the document just to get on stage.
McDaniel said in April that she decided to mandate the pledge in an effort to prevent intraparty infighting during the primaries and general election — and to stave off a potential third-party split.
