On Thursday, the Republican Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, attacked former President Donald Trump for not signing the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) pledge to support the ultimate Republican presidential candidate.
Trump is debating whether or not to attend the first Republican presidential debate on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is a requirement of the RNC. After Trump said that he would not sign the loyalty pledge on Wednesday, Kemp took to Twitter to criticize the former president for playing politics.
Kemp said that every Republican in the race for president would be an improvement over Joe Biden and that the destiny of our country comes above the interests of any contender who refuses to back the winner of the nomination.
Trump said he would announce by the end of the week whether or not he plans to attend the first debate, and he also said he wouldn’t sign the pledge because there are several people he wouldn’t want to endorse for president. He specifically mentioned New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In addition to meeting polling standards, the RNC asks candidates to have raised at least $80,000 from at least 40,000 separate donors, 200 of whom must be from at least 20 different states or territories. Candidates need at least 1% support in three nationwide surveys or 2% support in two national polls and two polls in one of the four most important early primary states (Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, or South Carolina).
During the midpoint of June, when Trump was indicted for allegedly mishandling secret documents, Kemp cautioned Republicans not to let themselves get sidetracked. The two men grew apart in 2020 when the governor refused to back Trump’s claim that he lost the Georgia race due to voter fraud.
Kemp has ruled out a presidential candidacy this year but has fueled speculation that he could oppose Democratic Sen. John Ossoff in a rematch in 2026 when his second term ends.
