Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said Friday that he would not support Donald Trump as Republican presidential nominee — and that "a real possibility" existed that he might not vote at all in next year's election if that is the case.
"I think he is an embarrassment to the party," Ridge, who became the nation's first secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush in 2003, told
Neil Cavuto on Fox News. "If he is the man who has the votes, then that's the way it will be."
But when asked whether he would support the billionaire developer, Ridge said: "No. I can't vote for Donald Trump."
For Democrat Hillary Clinton?
"No," he replied. "I couldn't do that either. I know I can't support Donald for a variety of reasons."
"What does Tom Ridge do?" Cavuto asked. "Don't vote at all?"
"A real possibility," the former governor said. "It would be tough for me … , but I don't think Donald Trump will get the nod."
Trump hit back sharply on Twitter:
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