Former President Donald Trump has stated that he will not pledge to support the Republican party's eventual 2024 nominee, a requirement to participate in the first GOP presidential primary debate. Trump made this announcement during an interview with Newsmax host Eric Bolling. He expressed his reluctance to sign the pledge, citing that there are certain individuals on the list that he would not endorse or support for president. Trump specifically mentioned three or four people he would not back. The pledge, known as the "Beat Biden pledge," was introduced by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to prevent infighting within the party during the primaries and general election.

Candidates who have met the RNC's polling and fundraising requirements have until 48 hours before the August 23 debate in Milwaukee to sign the pledge. The pledge asks candidates to affirm that if they do not win the 2024 Republican nomination, they will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee, without attempting a third-party or write-in campaign.

In contrast to Trump's stance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have both signed the pledge. Ramaswamy became the first GOP candidate to officially sign the pledge, while DeSantis's campaign tweeted an image of the governor's signature on the document. The tweet confirmed DeSantis's participation in the August 23 debate and outlined the consequences for not signing the pledge or participating in unsanctioned debates.

The pledge, which is also signed by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, has become a crucial factor in determining eligibility for the party's official debates. It goes against Trump's previous suggestion that he might not support the eventual winner of the Republican nomination. Trump has not yet committed to attending the Milwaukee debate and has indicated that he does not see much upside in participating. He mentioned that while he enjoys debates and has received positive feedback on his debating skills, he wants to be a “smart” president and make the right decision.

The signing of the pledge is part of the larger process of qualifying for the Republican primary debates. In addition to signing the pledge, candidates must meet polling and fundraising requirements set by the RNC. They must reach 1% in three national polls or 1% in two national polls and two state-specific polls from the early voting states. Candidates must also have 40,000 unique donors to their campaign committee, with a minimum of 200 unique donors per state or territory in at least 20 states or territories recognized by the RNC. These criteria aim to ensure a diverse and competitive field for the primary debates.

Overall, the issue of signing the pledge has become a point of contention within the Republican party, with Trump's refusal to commit and DeSantis and Ramaswamy's endorsement of the pledge. The upcoming 2024 GOP presidential primary debates will play a crucial role in shaping the party's nomination process and determining the eventual nominee who will face President Joe Biden in the general election.