Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) had choice words for former President Donald Trump over his refusal to sign a loyalty pledge, a requirement to participate in the Republican National Committee's first primary debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee.
"Every Republican running for President would be better than Joe Biden," Kemp posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Any candidate who does not commit to supporting the eventual nominee is putting themselves ahead of the future of our country. 2024 is too important for political games."
UP FOR DEBATE: TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND 2024 GOP HOPEFULS' STANCE ON THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Every Republican running for President would be better than Joe Biden.
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) August 10, 2023
Any candidate who does not commit to supporting the eventual nominee is putting themselves ahead of the future of our country.
2024 is too important for political games. https://t.co/1o4MwTfnbh
Trump told Newsmax host Eric Bolling he wouldn't sign the pledge, a promise to back whoever becomes the party standard-bearer in 2024, during a Wednesday interview.
"Why would I sign it? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have," the former president said. "They want you to sign a pledge, but I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So, right there, there’s a problem." Trump declined to name the candidates he wouldn't support as president.
Trump also said he would make a decision by next week on whether he would attend the RNC debate. His refusal to sign the pledge is the strongest signal yet that he may skip it. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Trump's top rival, signed his pledge on Wednesday and posted a copy online. "See you in Milwaukee!" DeSantis's campaign posted.
See you in Milwaukee! pic.twitter.com/zFeGjrtLph
— Team DeSantis (@TeamDeSantis) August 9, 2023
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Kemp, a popular governor who some Republicans had wanted to run for president, ruled out a 2024 campaign last month. He became one of Trump's chief rivals after he refused to overturn President Joe Biden's win in Georgia in 2020.
"In politics, there’s always doors opening and closing. I got a great job right now. I personally feel like having more people in the race does not help us win and beat Joe Biden. So, you know, I’m certainly not running for president. But there’s always doors opening in politics depending on how things play out, and we’ll see what happens," he said in an interview with CNN.