Donald Trump to GOP: 'Be Quiet' or I’ll Lead Alone
The presumptive Republican nominee issued a harsh directive to his party today.
—ATLANTA, GA -- Donald Trump issued a harsh directive for fellow members of his party: Be quiet or I’ll be forced to lead alone.
Speaking in the historic Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, Trump appeared to be fed up with leadership of the party he will likely lead into the November election.
"You know, the Republicans, honestly folks, our leaders, our leaders have to get tougher. This is too tough to do it alone. But you know what, I think I’m going to be forced to. I think I am going to be forced to, our leaders have to get a lot tougher,” he began.
He added, icily, "And be quiet. Just please be quiet. Don't talk, please be quiet.”
Trump has had a very tenuous relationship with many other Republicans, strife stemming from many of his more controversial proposals statements, including a plan to temporarily ban refugees and Muslims, and his statement that doubted whether an American judge could be impartial in a lawsuit due to his Mexican heritage.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan withheld his endorsement of Trump for a long time. When he finally made the announcement he would endorse Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee unleashed his criticism of judge Gonzalo Curiel -- prompting a swift rebuke from Ryan, among others.
In fact, Trump's comments have led some top Republicans to take back their endorsements. The former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, has refused to support Trump, predicting his candidacy will result in “trickle-down racism.”
But Trump remains defiant as ever.
“They have to get tougher. They have get sharper,” he said in Atlanta. "They have to get smarter. We have to have to -- our Republicans -- either stick together or let me just do it by myself. I'll do very well."