WASHINGTON — All but two of the eight candidates participating in Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate said they would support former President Donald Trump if he were the GOP nominee in 2024 — even if he was convicted of a crime before Election Day.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are the only candidates to say they will not support the convicted Trump’s bid for the White House, despite signing a pre-debate pledge that they will support whoever becomes the party’s standard-bearer. .
The Republican Party requires all candidates to pledge to be eligible to participate in the debate.
Charged in four criminal cases across the country since late March, the 77-year-old former president remains a Republican frontrunner as he faces 91 state and federal charges.
“This is the conclusion. Someone has to stop normalizing this behavior,” Christie said. “Whether you believe the alleged crimes are right or wrong, that conduct is beneath the office of the president of the United States.”
He was immediately booed by the crowd, but later quipped: “This is the great thing about this country, ridicule is allowed but it doesn’t change the truth.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he would not support Trump’s candidacy for the White House if the former president is convicted. AFP via Getty Images
“This is the conclusion. Someone has to stop normalizing this behavior,” Christie said. “Whether you believe the alleged crimes are right or wrong, that conduct is beneath the presidency of the United States.” AP
Charged in four criminal cases across the country since late March, the 77-year-old former president remains a Republican frontrunner as he faces 91 state and federal charges.REUTERS
Calling Trump’s candidacy “an important issue that we have to face as a party,” Hutchinson said Trump is “morally disqualified from being president again” — and may also be disqualified under the 14th Amendment “as a result of the rebellion” at the Capitol on Jan. 6 2021.
Written shortly after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment included a “disqualification clause” stating that no one “engaged in rebellion or insurrection” against the United States could “hold any office” in government.
Six other candidates – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy – indicated they would support Trump if he beats them. for nomination within 11 months.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
