• Join Puck

    Directly Supporting Authors

    A new economic model in which writers are also partners in the business.

    Personalized Subscriptions

    Customize your settings to receive the newsletters you want from the authors you follow.

    Stay in the Know

    Connect directly with Puck talent through email and exclusive events.

  • What is puck? Newsletters Authors Podcasts Events Gift Puck Careers

Republicans Prepare the Trump Loyalty Oath

National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Steve Daines has been “aggressively lobbying” senators to make their Trump endorsement now, before the blacklisting begins. House members and G.O.P. operatives aren’t far behind.

Donald Trump speaks to the media while attending his trial in New York State Supreme Court on December 7, 2023 in New York City.
For the Trump team, the demand for a loyalty oath is not just about racking up enough support to finally vanquish his flagging competitors; it’s also about sending a message to the donor class currently infatuated with Haley as the Never Trumper du jour. Photo: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Tara Palmeri
December 8, 2023

After months of semi-campaigning, inert debates, Jeff Roe drama, and a woeful lack of enthusiasm, it’s finally approaching decision time in the G.O.P. Donald Trump is polling at 59 percent—nearly four times both Nikki Haley (15 percent) and Ron DeSantis (14 percent), according to a new Wall Street Journal poll. And Republican senators, members, operatives, and bundlers are now being aggressively pushed to endorse Trump not only by his campaign, but also party leaders—a loyalty oath intended to effectively conclude this semi-primary season.