Trump likely to rule out third-party White House run: report

by Elliot Smilowitz - 09/02/15 10:23 PM ET

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump will likely rule out a third-party bid for the White House on Thursday, CNN reported late Wednesday night.

Trump will meet with Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus in New York City on Thursday, a day after the RNC began asking Republican candidates to sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee and not run an independent bid.

{mosads}CNN, citing unnamed sources, says “all signs indicate” Trump will sign the pledge, but cautioned that Trump’s unpredictable history means nothing is guaranteed yet.

The RNC’s pledge is thought to be largely aimed at Trump, who has refused to rule out an independent run if he loses the GOP nomination race.

“I [candidate’s name] affirm that if I do not win the 2016 Republican nomination for president of the United States I will endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is,” the pledge says. “I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party.”

In an exclusive interview with The Hill in July, Trump said he would consider a third-party run if the RNC was not “supportive” enough.

“I’ll have to see how I’m being treated by the Republicans,” he said then. “Absolutely, if they’re not fair, that would be a factor.”

The first GOP presidential debate in August began with moderator Bret Baier asking candidates to raise their hands if they were unwilling to pledge their support to the eventual Republican nominee, and only Trump raised his hand.

“I cannot say [that],” he said at the debate. “I have to respect the person if it’s not me who wins.”

Tags Donald Trump Reince Priebus