Trump to sign GOP loyalty pledge
Donald Trump will pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee in the general election on Thursday afternoon, effectively ruling out a third-party bid, the Post’s Robert Costa reports.The move will calm some nerves within the GOP about Trump’s unusual approach to campaigning for the White House, if only temporarily. As the party’s current 2016 frontrunner, Trump has defied expectations and continues to experience a healthy polling lead over his rivals despite a series of controversial remarks that might sink a more traditional candidate.Whether Trump will abide by the pledge is another question, and his trustworthiness on the matter was greeted by skepticism Thursday. Here’s how Costa described his decision:"The promise, which Trump has long avoided making, brings him closer to a party whose rank-and-file activists he has thrilled this summer but whose leadership has at times viewed his rapid ascent with alarm, especially the prospect of an outside bid that could siphon away votes from the eventual standard-bearer.The Republicans familiar with Trump’s decision requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. They also said that Trump may have caveats or conditions upon signing that have not yet been shared beyond the businessman’s tight-knit inner circle.These Republicans said that even as Trump wants to be a team player and plans to abide by the pledge, his priority is to be treated with he often refers to as “respect” by the national GOP. If that relationship should ever sour, he could consider changing his mind."
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