Former President Donald Trump was reportedly criticized by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for declining to sign the Republican Party’s “Beat Biden Pledge,” which requires candidates to pledge their support for the winner of the party’s presidential primary.
DeSantis made the comments to reporters in Iowa late this week in response to the former president’s declaration that he would not sign the pledge. DeSantis is the only GOP contender not polling in the low single digits against former President Trump in the race.
“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. I’m happy to do that. I’ve voted Republican my whole life.” DeSantis said.
“And even though I’m confident we’ll be the nominee, at the end of the day, you respect the judgment of how this works out, and you don’t take your ball and go home. It’s not just about you. It’s about a larger mission that we have to accomplish for Americans.” he continued.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says he signed the pledge to support eventual nominee ahead of first debate in Milwaukee: "You can't on the one hand say the country is going in such a bad direction which we all believe and on the other hand say you're just going to take your ball and go home?" pic.twitter.com/OrMyVPEb08
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) August 11, 2023
Trump said last week on Newsmax that needing to take the pledge in order to enter the debate as a Republican was one of his problems with it.
Trump did not name the candidates he would never support, according to Newsmax, but during the interview, he frequently disparaged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.
[READ MORE: DeSantis Shreds Biden Department of Justice Over New Special Counsel Overseeing Hunter Investigation]
