Trump suggests GOP field drops out to ‘unify’ and ‘beat Biden’ in 2024
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (FLV) – Former President Donald Trump urged other Republican presidential primary candidates to drop out of the race to help unify the Republican Party as quickly as possible, thereby increasing the chance of defeating President Joe Biden in 2024.
“Great polls just out, leading by 40, 50, even 60 points,” Trump said. “Who expected that – I did.”
“Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina – all very strong, but also leading Biden,” he continued. “Very big.”
He went on to argue that Gov. Ron DeSantis is “crashing,” perceived as the runner-up to Trump.
“DeSanctimonious is crashing. Perhaps the party should come together: people should drop out of the race,” Trump suggested. “We unify, and we beat Biden and the Democrats. They should be easy to beat because our country has never been in worse condition than it is right now.”
The current RealClearPolitics national polling average for the primary hands Trump around a 40-point lead over his closest competitor, DeSantis.
State-level polls paint a similar picture for the former president.
Trump’s calls for party “unity” come as he effectively duels the Republican National Committee, denying a party loyalty pledge to participate in the primary debate with other candidates, taking place Aug. 23.
On debating, Trump said he’s pondered to himself, “What’s the upside?”
“Am I going to go at one point? But they could go up, you know,” he said. “They’re not dumb people, they’re senators, they are governors, they’re intelligent people. You have some very good people.”
“Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President,” he taunted on social media last month.
“I have a problem with the debate for another reason: I wouldn’t sign the pledge,” Trump recently declared. “Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have, I wouldn’t have certain people [as president].”
“So, they want you to sign a pledge, but I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president,” he continued. “So, right there, there’s a problem.”
DeSantis has urged Trump to debate multiple times leading up to the Aug. 23 event, recently saying that Trump should come on stage to “defend your record.”
“You have to earn this nomination, and you have to show up,” DeSantis said. “You have to debate! You’ve got to be willing [to] answer questions, you’ve got to be willing to defend your record, and you’ve got to articulate a vision.”
