Ron DeSantis Disqualified From GOP Primary Debates?

The Republican National Committee earlier this month announced its requirements for candidates to qualify for the first primary debate in August.

RNC Releases Requirements to Make the Primary Debate Stage

Candidates require the following:

• Poll at 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and one early state poll
• 40,000 unique donors
• Must sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee

“The RNC is committed to putting on a fair, neutral, and transparent primary process and the qualifying criteria set forth will put our party and eventual nominee in the best position to take back the White House come November 2024,” Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement.

BREAKING: The RNC has released requirements for the first presidential debate to be held in Milwaukee on August 23.

- Must poll at 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and one early state poll
- 40,000 unique donors
- Must sign a pledge to support the eventual… pic.twitter.com/ZkGsdncdzw

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 2, 2023

Daily Caller Chief National Correspondent Henry Rodgers asked Florida governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis Thursday if he would pledge support to Donald Trump if he's the GOP nominee.

DeSantis dodged the question and talked about New York vs. Florida on their COVID responses.

WATCH:

#BREAKING: DeSantis asked if he pledges to support Trump if he's the GOP nominee

"When you are saying Cuomo did better than Florida on COVID, [you] are full of it. Nobody believes that [...] He was praising Florida for being open [in 2020 and 2021]."

"Now he's trying to… pic.twitter.com/dXelUKW2Tn

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) June 22, 2023

Although Florida's COVID response was immensely better than New York's (writing from personal experiences in both states), that's not the point.

If DeSantis won't commit to the GOP nominee, doesn't that disqualify him from participating in the GOP primary debates?

A pledge to the support the eventual party nominee is one of the RNC's requirements.

Florida's Voice reports:

Gov. Ron DeSantis said former President Donald Trump is “full of it” in regard to attacks on Florida’s handling of COVID-19 when asked if the governor will support Trump, assuming he’s the GOP nominee in 2024.

“So what I would say is this: When you are saying that Cuomo did better on COVID than Florida, you are revealing yourself to just be full of it,” DeSantis said. “Nobody believes that. And you know why? I know that because I remember in 2020, 2021, when he was praising Florida for being open.”

The governor gave a lengthy response and did not commit to supporting Trump outright, but said he respects the primary “process” and will respect the “people’s decisions.”

Trump previously declined to outright commit to supporting the GOP nominee in 2024.

"Today at a press conference, @henryrodgersdc asked @RonDeSantis if he pledges to support President Trump if he’s the GOP nominee. DeSantis dodged the question, and didn’t commit to supporting Trump. Like I said, DeSantis’s purpose of running is to help Joe Biden get 4 more years," Laura Loomer wrote.

WATCH: Today at a press conference, @henryrodgersdc asked @RonDeSantis if he pledges to support President Trump if he’s the GOP nominee.

DeSantis dodged the question, and didn’t commit to supporting Trump.

Like I said, DeSantis’s purpose of running is to help Joe Biden get 4… https://t.co/dzrijcphtB

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) June 22, 2023

"Under your loyalty oath pledge that you’re requiring for the 2023-2024 GOP debates, doesn’t this disqualify
@RonDeSantis? He just refused, on video, to support Donald Trump if Trump is the GOP nominee for 2024. How will you hold @RonDeSantis accountable?" Loomer tweeted, tagging RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Hey @GOPChairwoman

Under your loyalty oath pledge that you’re requiring for the 2023-2024 GOP debates, doesn’t this disqualify @RonDeSantis?

He just refused, on video, to support Donald Trump if Trump is the GOP nominee for 2024.

How will you hold @RonDeSantis accountable? https://t.co/79St93gdPT pic.twitter.com/D5BNdxVczH

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) June 22, 2023

Via Politico:

Any candidate who wants to take part in the GOP’s first primary debate in Milwaukee later this year will have to sign a pledge promising to support whoever wins the nomination, Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel said Sunday.

“We’re saying you’re not going to get on the debate stage unless you make this pledge,” McDaniel said during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” McDaniel, who recently won her fourth term as RNC chair after a contentious battle against Harmeet Dhillon, said that Republican voters are tired of “infighting” within the party, and “want to see us come together.”

In my opinion, the pledge to support the eventual nominee is a stupid requirement to make the debate stage.

The requirement will only prevent the people from listening to all candidates.

However, if the RNC insists on this requirement, apply it across the board.