Donald Trump ruled out a third-party run for president on Thursday, announcing in the lobby of his landmark Trump Tower in New York that 'I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and to the conservative principles for which it stands.'
'I have signed the pledge,' he told journalists and supporters.
Trump's press conference followed an afternoon meeting with Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee.
His campaign announced the event after the RNC began circulating a pledge to its 2016 presidential candidates that would commit them to supporting the party's eventual 2016 nominee.
It also requires them to forgo a third-party bid if they should come up short in the party primary races.
'I SIGNED THE PLEDGE!': Trump told supporters and journalists on Thursday that he's 100 per cent committed to runing for president as a Republican
TOUCHÉ: Jeb Bush fired back at The Donald with a hand-scrawled 'pledge' of his own on Twitter: 'Voted Republican since 1972'
RALLY: The Trump campaign gathered supporters at Trump Tower on Thursday for the announcement
Priebus, the real estate tycoon said Thursday, 'has been extremely fair. The RNC has been fair.'
'I wanted fairness,' Trump explained. 'I don't have to be treated any differently from anybody else. I just wanted fairness from the Republican Party.'
One of Trump's rivals lobbed a rhetorial hand grenade at him Thursday afternoon. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tweeted a photo of his own 'pledge,' a hand-scrawled and signed note saying he had 'voted Republican since 1972.'
A Bush aide said Thursday that Jeb scribbled the note while taking in news of the Trump event at a Dunkin' Donuts in Meredith, New Hampshire.
Bush has been critical of Trump for a personal history that included an affinity with the Democratic Party and its policy positions.
Trump said in response to a reporter's question that he wasn't promised anything in exchange for his pledge to the RNC.
'Absolutely nothing,' he said, 'other than the assurance that I would be treated fairly.'
'We don't want anything,' he said he told Priebus.
Trump assured voters that he won't break his word.
'I have no intention of changing my mind,' he said, adding later that 'I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge.'
A Trump spokesman confirmed the meeting with Priebus eirlier in the day but wouldn't tip his hand to indicate whether the billionaire would rule out an independent run.
Campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told Politico, 'I don’t think you can "expect" ANYTHING from Mr. Trump.'
Via: Daily Mail
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