They withdrew a proposal from the Republican National Committee that sought to declare Trump a potential nominee

(CNN) — The Republican National Committee's (RNC) draft resolution that would have formally declared Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for 2024 was withdrawn this Thursday amid the former president's rejection.

Republican National Committee member David Posey of Maryland, who recently endorsed Trump and introduced the resolution, withdrew it, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Trump took to his social media platforms Thursday to say the Republican National Committee should not move forward with the resolution, saying he applauded the effort but opposed it “for the sake of party unity” and wanted to “finish the process” on a vote. “

His statement comes amid concerns from Trump allies that the resolution could anger Republicans because of the perception that Trump is trying to play against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a person close to the former president said.

Trump's campaign initially approved moving forward with the resolution and the former president was on board until a backlash began, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

While the former president would have to meet the delegate requirements needed to win the nomination, if the resolution is passed, he would gain access to the RNC's data operation, benefit from fundraising with the RNC, and have the support of everyone. Ground operations of the group. The group would have backed Trump and effectively opposed Haley, an unprecedented break from the party's pre-nomination approach.

The resolution, which was reviewed by the RNC on Thursday, was proposed by Maryland RNC committee member David Posey, who recently endorsed Trump. The decision was first reported by The Dispatch on Thursday. A draft of the resolution was independently obtained by CNN.

“The Republican National Committee declares President Trump our presumptive nominee for President of the United States in 2024, and hereby moves to a full general election process welcoming supporters of all candidates as valued members of Team Trump 2024,” the resolution reads. .

An RNC spokeswoman said in a statement that the resolution remains a resolution and not the committee's current position.

“Resolutions like these are being pushed by members of the Republican National Committee. Chairman McDaniel did not issue any resolutions,” Communications Director Keith Schipper said in the statement. “It will be taken up by the Resolutions Committee, and they will decide at our annual meeting next week whether to send this resolution to a vote by the 168 members of the RNC.”

Former President Donald Trump speaks after being predicted the winner of the New Hampshire primary at the Sheraton Nashua, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Nashua. Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Haley's campaign ignored the resolution and said GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel should hold a debate before the South Carolina primary in late February.

“Who cares what the Republican National Committee says? “We will let millions of Republican voters across the country decide who our party's nominee is, not a group of Washington insiders,” Haley spokeswoman Olivia Perez-Cubaz said in a statement. “If Rona McDaniel wants to help, she can hold a debate in South Carolina, if she doesn't mind that Trump can't stand on stage with Nikki Haley for 90 minutes.”

The decision comes days after Trump defeated Haley by 30,000 votes in New Hampshire, a victory that has led many key Republicans to rally around Trump and call for Haley to leave Trump. Presidential race. Earlier this week, McDaniel told Fox News: “We have to unite around Donald Trump who is finally the nominee.”

Under current RNC rules, Trump must win 1,215 delegates to officially become the party's nominee. As of Thursday, CNN estimated Trump had 32 delegates and Haley 17.

Some members of the Republican National Committee were discussing the resolution during a conference call Wednesday night, a Republican with knowledge of the call said.

This post has been updated.