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The resolution to name former president Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s nominee for the third consecutive election cycle has been withdrawn by the Republican National Committee.
The decision to withdraw occurred after President Trump made a statement on Truth Social, expressing his desire to earn the nomination through traditional methods rather than being chosen before his previous opponent, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, is defeated at the polls.
“I am grateful to the Republican National Committee (RNC) for considering me as their PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE. However, I believe that for the sake of party unity, it would be best for them not to move forward with this plan. Instead, I will follow the traditional process and secure the nomination through the ballots. I want to thank the RNC for their support and dedication.”
In order to secure the Republican nomination, a candidate must obtain 1,215 delegates. Currently, Mr. Trump has accumulated 32 delegates compared to Ms. Haley’s 17.
The resolution was set to be “taken up by the Resolutions Committee” to decide if it should be sent on “to be voted on by the 168 RNC members at our annual meeting next week,” Keith Schipper, an RNC spokesperson, told Axios before the resolution was withdrawn.
He stated that Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the RNC, does not propose resolutions and instead they are presented by RNC members.
The Dispatch initially reported on the RNC’s decision to declare Mr. Trump as its nominee.
According to Olivia Perez-Cubas, a representative of the Haley campaign, the opinion of the RNC is irrelevant. The decision of who should be the party’s nominee will be left to the millions of Republican voters nationwide, not just a group of Washington insiders.
Donald Trump was victorious in the initial two competitions in Iowa and New Hampshire. Nikki Haley was the sole contender challenging him for the nomination heading into the Granite State competition. Despite losing by approximately 11 points in New Hampshire, she declared that the race was not yet finished. However, it is anticipated that Trump will secure a significant victory in her home state of South Carolina on February 24th.
The ex-president is currently dealing with numerous legal issues, as he has been accused in four separate indictments of 91 offenses including interfering in the election and mishandling classified information. He has also faced other accusations of misconduct. This week, Mr. Trump has been present in court for his second defamation trial, in which writer E Jean Carroll is suing him for sexual abuse in the 1990s, following a previous ruling finding him responsible. The trial is taking place in a Manhattan court.
Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 10 days as White House communications director under Mr Trump, wrote on X early on Friday: “Trump had a very bad week and it’s about to get worse. He was told this week that independents and a large slice of Republicans will not vote for him under any circumstance. He is about to get roasted in a court case and his support is shrinking.”
There is increasing belief among certain members of the Democratic Party that Mr. Trump could potentially secure the GOP nomination, but it is unlikely that he will defeat President Joe Biden in the November election.
On Tuesday in New Hampshire, Ms. Haley’s showing was impressive among moderate Republicans. She especially appealed to independent and non-affiliated voters who chose to vote in the GOP primary.
During a segment on MSNBC’s Friday episode, Joe Scarborough, the host of Morning Joe and a former Republican Representative from Florida, expressed disapproval of the Trump campaign’s refusal to engage in a debate with Ms Haley.
He asked if Trump’s advisors are preventing him from participating in the debate because they fear he will go out and not remember which decade it is or who he is running against.
On Thursday morning, George Conway, a lawyer known for his conservative views and opposition to President Trump, appeared on the network. He stated that the Haley campaign must not only try to convince voters but also strategically target Trump’s lack of substance. These two tactics are interconnected.
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