Trump's Decision Not To Sign Loyalty Pledge Leaves RNC In A Tight Spot

Former President Donald Trump’s denial to sign the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) loyalty pledge is causing complications as the GOP primary debate nears, The Hill reports.

Trump announced his decision last week and is anticipated to reveal soon if he will attend the debate. RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel faces the challenge of balancing Trump’s significant influence with her leadership role.

Republican strategist Brian Seitchik commented, "It's a distinct possibility that the Republican nominee for president could simply decide to shun the RNC itself. When a candidate refuses to play by the rules, it obviously weakens the RNC's position."

McDaniel emphasized the importance of the “Beat Biden Pledge” in a previous interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace.

"Everybody has to sign the Beat Biden Pledge. Everybody,” she said.

This pledge requires candidates to support the party’s eventual nominee and adhere to RNC-sanctioned debates. The first presidential primary debate is scheduled for Aug 23.

Historically, Trump resisted the R.N.C.’s unity efforts. In 2015, he was the sole candidate not committing to support the GOP’s eventual nominee. He did sign a pledge in Sep 2015 but retracted it by Mar 2016.

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