Politics

Trump tells RNC no need to crown him ‘presumptive nominee,’ prompting withdrawal of resolution

Former President Donald Trump nudged the Republican National Committee against a draft resolution to enshrine him as the party’s “presumptive nominee” for president, prompting its withdrawal.

“While I greatly appreciate the Republican National Committee (RNC) wanting to make me their PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE, and while they have far more votes than necessary to do it, I feel, for the sake of PARTY UNITY, that they should NOT go forward with this plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday.

“I should do it the ‘Old Fashioned’ way, and finish the process off AT THE BALLOT BOX. Thank you to the RNC for the Respect and Devotion you have shown me! “

The resolution wasfurnished by David Bossie, an RNC committeeman from Maryland who previously served as deputy Trump campaign manager in 2016, while as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley continues to jockey with the 45th president for the party nod.

Bossie subsequently pulled the draft resolution late Thursday after Trump’s post, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Post.

“Resolved, that the Republican National Committee hereby declares President Trump as our presumptive 2024 nominee for the office of President of the United States and from this moment forward moves into full general election mode welcoming supporters of all,” the resolution said.

Nikki Haley’s campaign brushed aside the RNC resolution. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Bossie’s pitch, first reported by The Dispatch and independently confirmed by The Post, cited Trump’s victories in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary and argued that “money spent from this moment forward” would be more wisely used opposing President Biden.

Haley’s campaign was unimpressed with the pre-emptive maneuver.

“Who cares what the RNC says? We’ll let millions of Republican voters across the country decide who should be our party’s nominee, not a bunch of Washington insiders,” said campaign spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubas.

David Bossie is largely seen as a key ally of Donald Trump. AP

“If [RNC Chairwoman] Ronna McDaniel wants to be helpful she can organize a debate in South Carolina, unless she’s also worried that Trump can’t handle being on the stage for 90 minutes with Nikki Haley.”

RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper told The Post that members frequently propose resolutions and not all are adopted.

The 168-member RNC is set to convene its annual winter meeting next week in Las Vegas.

RNC rules require candidates to lock down 1,215 delegates to become the party’s standard-bearer in a presidential election.

Ronna McDaniel predicted Donald Trump will be the GOP standard bearer. AP

Trump won at least 20 of the 40 available delegates from Iowa following his near 30-point victory, and is set to pick up at least 12 of New Hampshire’s 21 delegates following his 11-point win in the Granite State, per the latest data.

Haley is set to gain eight delegates from her third-place finish in Iowa and nine in New Hampshire.

While McDaniel has stopped short of directly calling on Haley to exit the race, she told Fox News Tuesday night that she did not see how Haley could overcome Trump and win the nomination.

“I’m looking at the math and the path going forward, and I don’t see it for Nikki Haley,” she said at the time.

Donald Trump is agitated that he still has a primary challenger. REUTERS

“There is a message that’s coming out from the voters, which is very clear,” she added. “We need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump.”

Neither the Trump campaign, nor Bossie immediately responded to requests for comment.

Bossie is also the chairman and president of Citizens United, a conservative advocacy group.

  翻译: