- GOP hopeful Nikki Haley said Sunday she was not bound by the Republican National Committee’s pledge to back former President Donald Trump
- “No, I think I’ll decide what decision I want to make,” she told NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker, who pressed Haley about the pledge
- All Republican candidates who wished to participate in the Republican Party’s primary debates were required to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday she was not bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to support former President Donald Trump because it is “not the same RNC.”
Haley, along with the other 2024 Republican presidential candidates, had to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee if they wanted to participate in the Republican primaries – all of which Trump skipped.
The former U.N. ambassador was asked Sunday by Meet the Press’ Kristen Welker if she still felt bound by the pledge, as she remains Trump’s final Republican challenger in the 2024 Republican Party primaries.
“No, I guess I’ll decide what decision I want to make,” Haley said, also noting that “the RNC is not the same RNC now.”
RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel is leaving her post on Friday and Trump has already endorsed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to take her place, as well as his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday she was not bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to support former President Donald Trump because it is “not the same RNC.”
Trump also nodded to his top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, to take over as the party’s chief operating officer.
During recent campaign stops, Haley has spoken out against these measures, arguing that the party should not be taken over by the MAGA wing while remaining in the race.
Haley’s path to the nomination, however, is quickly narrowing — and will likely be mathematically impossible by the middle of this month.
On Tuesday, voters from sixteen states and one US territory will vote in the ‘Super Tuesday’ elections.
Welker asked Haley if she would drop out of the race if she didn’t win anywhere.
‘I’ve always said this has to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we show that there is a place for us, I will keep fighting. It has always been that way,” the former UN ambassador said.
The Meet the Press host then asked Haley how she could define “competitive” if she didn’t win any states.
Former President Donald Trump (pictured) and Haley will be on the ballot in 16 states and one territory this week for the so-called ‘Super Tuesday’ primaries
“Well, first let’s see what happens on Super Tuesday. I don’t like looking at “what if” questions or hypotheticals. I think we should always live in the moment,” Haley replied.
Welker then asked Haley if she would be willing to join the race to the Republican National Convention in July.
‘If people want to see me progress, they will show it. They will show it in their votes. They will show it in their donations. They will show it by the fact that they want us to keep moving forward,” Haley said.
The conversation then turned to whether Haley would ultimately support Trump.
The former South Carolinian told Welker that she feared another term for President Joe Biden because of Trump, but also said she was unsure whether Trump would adhere to the Constitution during a second term.
On the broader issue, Haley remained non-committal.
“Well, if you all ask Donald Trump to support me, I’ll talk about that,” Haley said. “But right now my focus is, ‘How do we reach as many voters as possible? How do we win?’ I want the American people to see that you don’t have to live this way. There is a path forward. And we can do it with someone who can put in eight years, who can continuously focus on the results and not on the negativity and the baggage that we have now.’
