New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu predicted Sunday that former President Donald Trump will lose the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Sununu, a Republican who has said he is thinking about his own White House bid, said that Trump is "in the race" but that "he's not going to be the nominee; that's just not going to happen."
"There’s very few people that are on the fence, whether they’re with him or not with him or whatever it might be. So I think he just has his lane and then there’s everyone else, which is I think a vast majority of the party that’s looking for an alternative,” Sununu said.
“Thank you for your service. We’re moving on. I just don’t believe the Republican Party is going to say that the best leadership for America tomorrow is yesterday’s leadership,” he added.
Sununu said in January that he didn’t think Trump could win against President Joe Biden in 2024. in that interview, he also said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ style, which he depicted as authoritarian, wouldn't mesh well with his state.
Sununu, however, predicted on “Meet the Press” that DeSantis, who has not yet launched a presidential bid, would win in New Hampshire if the election were to happen today. “There’s no doubt about that in my mind," he said.
Asked by host Chuck Todd whether he’s any closer to deciding whether he'll run for president in 2024, Sununu said he’s “not really focusing on the decision right now,” adding, “There'll be plenty of time for that.”
“I’m really focused on how do we win no matter who the candidate is. How do we win in November of ’24. We have to attract independents. We have to bring that next generation of voter more on the team,” he said.
He did, however, commit to support the eventual GOP nominee.
"I'm a lifelong Republican. I'm going to support the Republican nominee," he said. "I'm really confident that whoever comes out of the Republican nomination process is going lead this country and will be able to deliver a win in ’24."
Sununu — who was elected in November to his fourth two-year term — confirmed last month that he had formed the “Live Free or Die” committee (borrowed from his state’s nickname), a 501(c)(4) organization through which politicians can raise unlimited money. Prospective presidential candidates who are testing the waters often use such nonprofit political groups to gauge interest from donors.
