Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump signed a pledge today vowing to support the GOP nominee even if it isn't him, with the billionaire's usual supreme confidence that it will be him, and it must be him.
Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus traveled to Trump Tower to meet privately with Trump this afternoon and secure his signature. Priebus slipped out before Trump met a crowd of news media to show off the pledge, belittle his opponents and praise Tom Brady and Kanye West.
Just another day on the Trump trail.
So what did the famed negotiator get in exchange for his promise not to run as a third party candidate and sink Republicans’ chances next fall?
“I got nothing,” Trump said. “I really got nothing.”
He did guarantee himself access to the Republican primary ballot in key states, where some parties were considering loyalty oaths of their own. And he avoided an attack line from opponents of the kind that kicked off the Fox News debate in Cleveland last month, when he refused to make the promise.
Trump said he changed his view because the party has treated him fairly and “with great respect” as he has shot to the top of the polls “like a rocket ship.” Trump insisted he has no intention of reneging on the pledge.
Here was his vow today:
"I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and the conservative principles for which it stands. And we will go out and we will fight hard and we will win."
Then for a rollicking half-hour, Trump took media questions on just about everything.
On businesswoman Carly Fiorina's expected inclusion in the CNN presidential debate in two weeks:
"I think it's great that she's in the debate. … I don't like the fact there are 11 people now. As I understand it, they're not getting rid of Rand Paul or somebody, and they should. … If there's 11, you're not going to hear me and you're not going to hear other people talking. I think 11 is a lot of people."
"I hear he's going to spend a lot of money on negative ads on me. Honestly, look, he's getting the money form special interests. He's getting money from lobbyists and his donors and they're making him do it because he's crashing in the polls. … Nobody's ever spent money on ads against me. He probably has to do that, although it would not be the way I'd have done it."
On the news that a federal judge struck down Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's suspension:
"Tom Brady is a very good friend of mine. He's a great guy. For those of you who don't know him, he's an honorable guy and a nice guy ... I just spoke to him a little while ago. He was so thrilled and so happy. ... I'm very happy for Tom. As far as the commissioner's concerned, they're having a rough year. Let's face it. They're having a rough year."
On whether he cheats at golf:
"Absolutely false. I win at golf. That I can tell you."
On the presidential ambitions of rapper Kanye West:
"Kanye West, I love him. Maybe in a few years I'll have to run against him so I'll take it back. He's been so nice to me."
After posing for cameras with the pledge and his pursed-lip “Apprentice” look, Trump returned to the podium to introduce the speaker of the house in Indonesia, who Trump said was visiting him.
“Do they like me in Indonesia?” Trump asked.
Yes, he was assured, they do.
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