Former President Donald Trump avoided committing his endorsement of the Republican candidate for president in 2024 on Thursday if he does not receive the nomination himself.
Trump, who announced his third bid for the country's highest office in November, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that his endorsement would depend upon the candidate.
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“It would depend. I would give you the same answer I gave in 2016 during the debates,” Trump said. “It would have to depend on who the nominee was."
The former president's hesitance to commit to backing a GOP victor other than himself stands in contrast to former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who pledged his endorsement to the party's nominee. Hogan is considering his own bid for the White House.
Trump is the only household Republican to declare his run for the nomination, but more candidates are expected to emerge in the coming months. Former governor and Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (R-SC), who previously said she would not run for president if Trump did, is expected to announce her race on Feb. 15 in Charleston, South Carolina.
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“She’s a very ambitious person. She just couldn’t stay in a seat. I said, ‘You know what, Nikki, if you want to run, you go ahead and run,’” Trump told Hewitt.
Trump's former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) are also expected to run.