Florida GOP spurns DeSantis and sides with Donald Trump in fight over loyalty oath

The Florida GOP has sided with former President Donald Trump by rescinding the state’s loyalty oath primary requirement on Friday, a measure that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis supported.

Previously, any candidate who wanted to participate in the Florida primary was required to sign a pledge promising that they would support the eventual Republican nominee.

Trump has taken issue with such requirements because of his strong stance against certain Republican candidates.

Trump told Newsmax that, "Why would I sign it? I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem."

Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters explained, "A lot of Republicans in this state are saying the primary is basically over. Trump is ahead by 40, 50 points in some polls, and he’s battling multiple indictments. So why would our state party want to fight his campaign? If we didn’t make this change, the Republican Party as we know it today wouldn’t exist in two months."

The decision is a major blow to DeSantis and is a strong reminder that Trump is the most powerful Republican in the party, and he will get his way one way or another.