Ever since announcing his candidacy for president last summer, Donald Trump has surprised many by vaulting to the top of the Republican primary field. With the Republican National Convention just three months away, Trump is in the best position to win the nomination, but made a surprising announcement about what would happen if he lost.
Trump's bold promise
While the majority of the mainstream media and political pundits didn't give him much of a chance at success, Trump continues to appear confident that he will not only win the GOP primary, but also the White House in November.
If that doesn't happen, however, most Americans won't be seeing much of the billionaire real estate mogul, as Trump elaborated on during a campaign stop in Maryland on April 24.
Trump: If I lose, "I don't think you're ever going to see me again" https://t.co/gv2PpxF3xT pic.twitter.com/FbLP1u7dfO
— The Hill (@thehill) April 24, 2016
"They fight like hell for six months, and they're saying horrible things, the worst things you can imagine," Trump told a crowd of Maryland supporters on Sunday. Continuing, Trump explained that the two candidates fight and debate, and the one who loses goes on to praises the winner in almost hypocritical fashion. Trump, as expected, said he couldn't see himself in that position and predicted that if he doesn't become the Republican nominee, he would leave public life.
(Trump's remarks in regards to leaving public life start at 1:17:00 in the above video.)
"I don't think I'm going to lose, but if I do, I don't think you're ever going to see me again," Trump said, stating, "I think I'll go to Turnberry and play golf or something." Despite his statement, the Trump and his campaign have predicted that they will become the nominee within the next two months.
Primary status
Whoever becomes the Republican nominee will have to secure the 1,237 delegates required before the convention in Cleveland, Ohio this July. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, 559 delegates, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 148 delegates, are both mathematically eliminated from locking up the nomination before the convention. Only Trump and his 845 delegates can do so, but if the remaining candidates can prevent him from reaching his goal, the party will force a brokered or contested convention instead.
Regardless of who represents the GOP in November, they are expected to have a tough battle on their hands. According to most polls, Trump, Cruz, and Kasich, all fall in defeat to both Democratic candidates, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
