Elections 2016: Jeb Bush Refuses to Support Donald Trump’s Campaign

Jeb Bush has said he will not vote for his former rival Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.

The former Florida governor joins several high-profile Republicans who have refused to support Donald Trump’s campaign.

On May 5, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he “was not ready” to support Donald Trump, but will meet him next week.

Breaking with tradition, Jeb Bush’s father and brother – both former presidents – also withheld support.

Some Republicans have said they would back Democrat Hillary Clinton but Jeb Bush ruled that out.

He said: “Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character.

“And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy.”

Jeb Bush had previously pledged to support the eventually Republican nominee while he was still a candidate for president.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina also announced on May 6 that he would not vote for Donald Trump.

He told CNN: “I think Donald Trump is going to places where very few people have gone and I’m not going with him.”

Donald Trump swiftly responded to Lindsay Graham who also was a Republican candidate for president: “While I will unify the party, Lindsey Graham has shown himself to be beyond rehabilitation. And like the voters who rejected him, so will I.”

Many Republican candidates for lower offices are concerned about running on the same ballot as Donald Trump, who has alienated minority voters through his rhetoric about building a wall with Mexico and banning US entry to Muslim travelers.

Many Americans choose to vote for either the Democrat or Republican Party, rather than weighing the individual candidates.

Republican representatives fear that voters who oppose Donald Trump may eschew the Republican Party all together.

Some Republicans have begun to openly call for the party to oppose the presumptive nominee and to work to independently elect a conservative candidate, such as Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who has indicated that he will not be supporting Donald Trump.