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| US election: Trump steps back from Republican support pledge | US election: Trump steps back from Republican support pledge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US Republican front-runner Donald Trump has dropped his pledge to support the party candidate if he does not win the nomination for the November election. | US Republican front-runner Donald Trump has dropped his pledge to support the party candidate if he does not win the nomination for the November election. |
| Mr Trump's rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, refused to say outright whether they would unite behind a nominee. | Mr Trump's rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, refused to say outright whether they would unite behind a nominee. |
| All the Republican candidates signed a loyalty pledge last November. | All the Republican candidates signed a loyalty pledge last November. |
| It is the latest sign of friction between Mr Trump and Mr Cruz, who have been embroiled in a dispute involving each other's wives. | It is the latest sign of friction between Mr Trump and Mr Cruz, who have been embroiled in a dispute involving each other's wives. |
| A committee supporting Mr Cruz published a nude photo of Mr Trump's wife Melania from 2000. In retaliation, Mr Trump tweeted an unflattering picture of Mr Cruz's wife Heidi. | A committee supporting Mr Cruz published a nude photo of Mr Trump's wife Melania from 2000. In retaliation, Mr Trump tweeted an unflattering picture of Mr Cruz's wife Heidi. |
| Asked by CNN about the dispute, Mr Trump said: "He started it." | Asked by CNN about the dispute, Mr Trump said: "He started it." |
| CNN presenter Anderson Cooper said: "But, sir, with all due respect, that's the argument of a five-year-old." | CNN presenter Anderson Cooper said: "But, sir, with all due respect, that's the argument of a five-year-old." |
| "No, it's not," said Mr Trump. | "No, it's not," said Mr Trump. |
| Mr Trump claims he has been "treated very unfairly" in the campaign. | Mr Trump claims he has been "treated very unfairly" in the campaign. |
| To a question about whether he maintained his loyalty pledge from last November, Mr Trump said: "No, I do not any more." | |
| Earlier, when asked the same question, Mr Cruz did not give a direct answer but said: "I am not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and attacks my family." | Earlier, when asked the same question, Mr Cruz did not give a direct answer but said: "I am not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and attacks my family." |
| He went on: "Donald is not going to be the GOP nominee. We are going to beat him," referring to the acronym Grand Old Party, also used to refer to the Republican Party. | He went on: "Donald is not going to be the GOP nominee. We are going to beat him," referring to the acronym Grand Old Party, also used to refer to the Republican Party. |
| Mr Trump later replied, saying he did not need Mr Cruz's support. "I have tremendous support right now from the people." | Mr Trump later replied, saying he did not need Mr Cruz's support. "I have tremendous support right now from the people." |
| Where are the failed Republican candidates now? | Where are the failed Republican candidates now? |
| The billionaire has been repeatedly criticised by his rivals and observers for a campaign that has included personal attacks at rivals and criticism and violence against protesters. | The billionaire has been repeatedly criticised by his rivals and observers for a campaign that has included personal attacks at rivals and criticism and violence against protesters. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was charged with assaulting a journalist at a campaign event. | Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was charged with assaulting a journalist at a campaign event. |
| Police said Mr Lewandowski grabbed former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields' arm when she tried to ask Mr Trump a question, leaving a bruise. | Police said Mr Lewandowski grabbed former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields' arm when she tried to ask Mr Trump a question, leaving a bruise. |
| Despite the numerous recent controversies surrounding him, Mr Trump is currently well ahead in the Republican race with 739 delegates to Mr Cruz's 465. | Despite the numerous recent controversies surrounding him, Mr Trump is currently well ahead in the Republican race with 739 delegates to Mr Cruz's 465. |
| Mr Kasich is some way behind with 143, with the 1,237 needed to win the nomination probably out of his reach. | Mr Kasich is some way behind with 143, with the 1,237 needed to win the nomination probably out of his reach. |
| The three candidates have campaigned in Wisconsin ahead of next Tuesday's primary there. | The three candidates have campaigned in Wisconsin ahead of next Tuesday's primary there. |
| More on the Trump campaign | More on the Trump campaign |
| The 40-year hurt - how Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump | The 40-year hurt - how Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump |
| Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes | Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes |
| A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump | A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump |