Trump Refuses To Rule Out Third Party Bid In GOP Debate

Donald Trump said he would not pledge not to run as an independent if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination at the outset of the first Republican debate Thursday night.

Anchor Bret Baier, who moderated the debate, asked the field of candidates to raise their hands if they were unwilling to pledge their support to the eventual Republican nominee or may run as a third party candidate.

Trump raised was the only candidate to raise his hand.

“I cannot say [that],” Trump said. “I have to respect the person if it’s not me who wins.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) promptly cut him off.

“That’s what’s wrong, he buys and sells politicians of all stripes,” Paul said. “He’s already hedging his bet on the Clintons. So if he doesn’t run as a Republican, maybe he supports Clinton, or maybe he runs as an independent. But I’d say he’s already hedging his bets because he’s used to buying politicians.”

Trump insited that he hopes to run as a Republican and support the eventual nominee, but he would not take the third-party option off the table.

“I will not make the pledge at this time,” he said.

Trump initially brought up the possibility of running as a third-party candidate in July, but emphasized that he would only if the Republican National Committee treated him unfairly during the 2016 primary season.