Donald Trump will not run as third-party candidate, signs RNC loyalty pledge

Donald Trump has signed a loyalty pledge that says he will support the Republican nominee -whoever that may be- and he will not be running as a third-party candidate.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (Catholic Online) - Following the announcement of signing the loyalty pledge, reporters can be heard asking, "That's in August? Mr. Trump, did you sign that today? Did you sign that today?"

Trump said, "The best way for the Republicans to win is if I win the nomination and go directly against whoever they happen to put up. And for that reason, I have signed the pledge. So I will be totally pledging my allegiance to the Republican Party and for the conservative principles for which it stands."

"We will go out and fight hard, and we will win," he added. 

Trump did well in polls because he represented himself as an anti-establishment, outsider candidate going up against career politicians and the Washington political class; however the pledge makes him appear to be the opposite.

Katrina Pierson, a spokeswoman for the Tea Party Leadership Fund told CNN she does not agree with Trump's decision to sign the RNC pledge.

"The GOP has not been loyal to members of its own party during previous election cycles. I can't see any reason why he would give up that leverage considering a lot of his supporters like the idea that he's running against the establishment."

Trump met privately with Reince Priebus, Republican National Committee Chairman, to sign the pledge. After Trump announced the signing of the RNC, he explained he decided to sign because the Republican Party has been "extremely fair" to him lately. 

"The RNC has been absolutely terrific over the last two month period and as you know, that's what I've wanted," Trump announced. "I don't want to be treated any differently."

He was asked what he got in return for signing the treaty and Trump replied, "assurance that I will be treated fairly."

The pledge reads:

"I, ________, affirm that if I do not win the 2016 Republican nomination for President of the United States I will endorse the 2016 Republican presidential nominee regardless of who it is ...  I further pledge that I will not seek to run as an independent or write-in candidate nor will I seek or accept the nomination for president of any other party."

Trump's advisers claim he was never interested running as a third-party candidate due to the expensive and complicated process. The pledge has applied pressure to Trump's commitment to the party and forces his rivals to support him if he is the GOP nominee.

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