The Republican presidential candidates who have toiled for months to knock Donald Trump from his perch atop the field have all refused to oppose him if he wins the GOP’s nomination.
No candidate joined the #NeverTrump movement during the debate, which has begun to gain traction on social media and obtained funding from big-money Republican donors.
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Fox News closed Thursday night’s presidential debate by asking each candidate if they could “definitively say you will support the Republican nominee, even if that nominee is Donald J. Trump?”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Ohio Gov. John Kasich all answered that they would indeed support the former reality television star for the nation’s highest office if he emerges victorious.
“I’ll support the Republican nominee, I’ll support Donald if he’s the Republican nominee, and let me tell you why,” Rubio said. “Because the Democrats have two people left in the race, one of them is a socialist. … The other one is under FBI investigation, and not only is she under FBI investigation, she lied to the families of the victims of Benghazi and anyone who lies to the families of victims who have lost their lives in the service of our country cannot be commander in chief. We must defeat Hillary Clinton.”
Cruz answered he would because of his desire to remain consistent.
“Yes, because I gave my word that I would,” Cruz said. “And what I have endeavored to do every day in the senate is do what I said I would do.”
Kasich also agreed to do so, but added a caveat.
“Yeah, but I kind of think before it’s all said and done I’ll be the nominee,” Kasich said. “If he ends up as the nominee, sometimes he makes it a little bit hard, but you know I will support whoever is the Republican nominee for president.”
As for Trump, Fox News host Chris Wallace asked if he “will definitely support the Republican nominee for president, even if it’s not you?”
“Even if it’s not me?” Trump said. The billionaire then argued that he brought “millions” of new voters to the GOP before concluding, “but the answer is yes I will.”
The candidates’ decisions to fulfill their pledge to support the eventual nominee could become increasingly important if no candidate wins the Republican bid until the July convention. As each candidate begins preparing for a prolonged delegate fight, the candidates displayed a reluctant sign of unity at the end of Thursday’s debate.
