Using the GOP’s allegiance oath as justification, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) attacked former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) for failing to support former President Trump when she withdrew from the Republican primary earlier this week.
“I signed the pledge and you signed the pledge saying that you’re gonna not take your ball and go home,” When asked about Haley’s choice, DeSantis responded. “And so I honored the pledge, and she’s gonna have to make a decision about whether she wants to or not.”
“But the idea that somehow circumstances have changed — I think we all knew what we were doing when we did that, and you got to make a judgment about whether that’s meaningful to you,” he continued. “And so for me, I tell people, you know, if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”
Candidates wishing to advance to the debate stage had to affix their signatures to a loyalty pledge promising to back the party’s eventual nominee, as required by the Republican National Committee (RNC). Haley signed the promise, as did the other front-runners in the contest.
Trump did not sign, despite his refusal to take part in the debates due to his large lead in the polls.
Now, a number of the former presidential contenders, such as DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Gov. Doug Burgum (R) of North Dakota, have chosen to support Trump since withdrawing from the campaign.
Since withdrawing from the campaign prior to the Iowa caucuses, former governor of New Jersey and frequent opponent of the front-runner for the Republican nomination, Chris Christie (R), has sworn to not vote for Trump “under any circumstances.”
In announcing her suspension on Wednesday, Haley stated that Trump would have to “earn” her followers’ votes.
Speaking to supporters, Haley stated, “It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him, and I hope he does that. At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away.”
“And our conservative cause badly needs more people,” she continued. “This is now his time for choosing.”
