RNC chair Reince Priebus just scoffed at the idea of Donald Trump launching a third-party presidential run

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published 27 July 2015

The chairman of the Republican National Committee isn't all that concerned about Donald Trump's threats — as a Republican candidate or as a potential third-party candidate. Indeed, in a Today interview on Monday morning, RNC chairman Reince Priebus basically scoffed (politely) at the idea of Trump following through on his threat to run as a third-party candidate because of what Trump perceives as the RNC's lack of support and fairness.

Priebus insisted that Trump, who the RNC chair said is "speaking out to people who are really frustrated with Washington," needs the Republican Party if he wants to win. "I think that everyone understands that if Hillary Clinton is going to get beat, she's going to get beat by a Republican. Most people that run for president run to win, and if our candidates want to win, then they'll have to run as a Republican."

As Today's Savannah Guthrie noted, "Most political analysts say if Trump ran an independent campaign, it would peel off enough Republican votes to all but assure a Hillary Clinton victory." Priebus responded that Republican candidates "certainly should pledge not to run as a third-party candidate," but insisted that he doesn't see Trump, who leads in GOP polls, following through on his threat. "I don't fear that," Priebus said. "I think you can see Donald Trump walk that back over the last few days as well." Becca Stanek