Trump: Candidates who violated RNC loyalty pledge 'disgraceful'

BANGOR, Maine, June 30 (UPI) -- Unleashing a torrent of criticism on several former rivals, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Wednesday the former GOP candidates who have not endorsed him are "disgraceful" and should not be allowed to run for office again.

Trump said the candidates, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, violated a pledge all the candidates signed from the Republican National Committee, to support the eventual nominee. Trump signed the pledge earlier in the primary season despite having flirted with a third-party bid had he lost the GOP nomination.

Trump told supporters in Maine he would have honored the pledge if he'd lost, but other candidates, including Bush, who he singled out by name, have reneged.

Bush and Sen. Lindsey Graham have both said publicly they will not endorse Trump.

"But I signed a pledge. I would have honored that pledge. I wouldn't have gone crazy, I wouldn't have had, you know, let's yell it from the loudest building, but you know what, I would have honored the pledge. But we have people that have not honored the pledge. And that's a terrible thing. I don't care who you are, what your position. You can say what you want. They all signed so that I'd sign because I was the one that was negotiating a little bit. I'll always negotiate for you people. I love to negotiate," Trump said. "Just remember this: They signed a pledge saying they will abide, saying they will back the candidate of the party. And now they sit back and the pledge is out there and the press doesn't even go after him on that. They broke their word, in my opinion. They should never be allowed to run for public office again because what they did is disgraceful."