Donald Trump says he doesn’t want fellow Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush to publicly support him if he wins the GOP nomination.
“I really don’t want Jeb’s endorsement because he is a low energy person and he does not represent strength, power and stamina, which are qualities our country desperately needs,” Trump reportedly wrote in a statement to the Washington Post Wednesday.
The billionaire’s criticism came shortly after Politico reported Wednesday morning that senior campaign aides to Bush considered having the former Florida governor state he wouldn’t support Trump as the GOP nominee in an attempt to put distance between the two candidates. Bush avoided making such a statement during the fifth debate Tuesday night, instead choosing to hit Trump on an array of issues.
“If he does not endorse and support me as the nominee, legally he cannot be on the ballot in many states so that would be the end of his candidacy — but that doesn’t matter because he is not going to win anyway,” Trump added in his statement to the Post.
Some states require candidates to pledge their support to their party’s’ eventual nominee before they can register for a spot on the primary ballot.
“While everyone said I beat [Bush] last night, I was only responding to his desperate attempt to stay relevant by attacking me,” Trump continued. “Everybody said I won the debate last night… Additionally, I have a 27-point lead in the Monmouth poll, and the just out Morning Consult poll shows me leading with 40 [percent].”
“Jeb is only doing this because I committed to run as a Republican last night — so dishonorable,” he wrote.
Bush and Trump are fourth and second, respectively, in the latest Washington Examiner power rankings.
