Christie says he expects Trump to sign RNC pledge to get on debate stage

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said he expects former President Trump to sign the RNC pledge to get on the debate stage on Aug. 23, despite the former president vowing not to.

Christie told Jonathan Karl on ABC’s “This Week” that Trump did the same thing during the 2016 primary in refusing to to sign the RNC pledge, calling the pledge ‘nonsensical theater.”

“We don’t know how much he would have respected the pledge even after having signed it. So, look, I think this is all kind of nonsensical theater,” he said Sunday. “I’ve made that clear to the RNC as well, way back, even before I entered the race, that I thought the pledge was a bad idea, and Donald Trump is now playing that game. But that’s what he does. You know this, Jon. He plays misdirection all the time.”

GOP presidential hopefuls will take the stage in Milwaukee on Aug. 23 for the first Republican debate of the 2024 primary. To qualify for the first debate, GOP candidates need to meet certain polling and donor requirements, as well as sign an RNC pledge saying they will support the eventual Republican nominee.

Christie added that he would not be the “least bit surprised” if Trump signs the pledge next Sunday or Monday — just days ahead of the debate. Trump said last week that he would not sign such a pledge.

“He might not also, but I would not be the least bit surprised if he did,” he said. “This is about Donald Trump keeping the attention on Donald Trump, and he’s doing pretty well because, in the first question this morning, we’re talking about him and that’s what he likes.”