What if Donald Trump doesn’t win, will he support the 2024 GOP presidential nominee? Here’s what he told a radio host

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Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination in 2024, his support for the GOP nominee will depend on who it is. Radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Trump for his thoughts on his rumored GOP candidates, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

My question to you, Mr. President, if youre not the nominee, will you support whoever the GOP nominee is? Hewitt asked Trump.

It depends. I’ll give you the same answer I gave (Fox News anchor Bret Baier) in 2016 during the debates, Trump responded. I was asked two rather interesting questions. It should depend on who is nominated.

Presumably, Trump was referring to the first 2016 GOP presidential debate where Baier opened a question to all 10 participating candidates. Is there anyone on stage, and can I see some hands, asked Baier, unwilling tonight to pledge his support to the Republican Party’s nominee.

Trump raised his hand in opposition to the proposed pledge and said, I can’t say. I have to respect the person, if not me, the person who wins.

Hewitt asked Trump what he thought of the other potential 2024 GOP presidential candidates, including Haley and Pompeo who both served in the Trump administration.

Trump said Haley called him to ask if he should run for president. Multiple sources confirmed earlier this week that Haley plans to announce her campaign for president in February. Currently, Trump is the only declared 2024 presidential candidate.

Although Haley had previously said she would not run against her former boss, Trump told her she should follow her heart. He added, shes a very ambitious person. He just couldn’t get up from his seat. And I said, you know what? Nikki, if you want to run, run.

Later in the interview, Trump said Haley was suffering from being too ambitious.

When asked about Pompeo, Trump said relatively little. It is said that Pompeo did a good job as secretary of state and their relationship is good.

He also commented on DeSantis, who is considered his main potential GOP rival. DeSantis was elected because of me, Trump said, referring to his endorsement of her in the Florida 2018 gubernatorial election. Trump said DeSantis asked for the endorsement with tears streaming from his eyes.

Trump insists he is ahead of DeSantis in the polls. However, some early primary polls in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa have the Florida governor ahead of Trump.

“Every once in a while, Fox will put out a fake poll, because Fox wasn’t Fox in the old days,” Trump said. But I’m ahead of New Hampshire. I’ve been to South Carolina before. I’m ahead of Iowa, and I’m ahead of the nation.

After discussing several geopolitical and domestic policy issues with Hewitt, Trump concluded the interview by comparing his 2020 campaign numbers in Florida to DeSantis’ 2022 reelection numbers.

And by the way, I got 1.2 million more votes than Ron DeSantis, Trump said. People don’t know that … so I think there will be a good campaign.

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